A heated exchange erupted between Rekha Sharma, the chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), and Priyanka Chaturvedi, a Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, following Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's controversial remarks on the relationship between women's education and population control. Kumar's comments, made during a session of the state assembly, emphasized the role of women's education in influencing family planning.
The NCW strongly condemned Kumar's recent statements in the Vidhan Sabha, branding them regressive and insensitive to women's rights and choices. They called for an apology from the Bihar Chief Minister, expressing deep offense at his comments.
NCW's Rekha Sharma took to social media to demand an immediate and unequivocal apology from Nitish Kumar on behalf of all women in the country. She characterized his remarks as an affront to the dignity and respect that every woman deserves, describing his language as derogatory and unbecoming of a leader in a democratic society.
Sharma further tagged prominent women leaders, including Priyanka Chaturvedi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Atishi, urging them to join in condemning Kumar's remarks and demanding an apology from him.
However, Priyanka Chaturvedi responded by denouncing derogatory language against women, regardless of political affiliations, and expressed confidence that Kumar would reconsider his choice of words and issue an apology. Chaturvedi also criticized the NCW for its perceived selective silence and actions, undermining the non-partisan nature of the organization.
The dispute between Sharma and Chaturvedi continued, with Sharma referencing a past incident involving a leader who was once part of Chaturvedi's party, suggesting that Chaturvedi did not act impartially in that case.
Regarding Nitish Kumar's remarks on sex education, he highlighted the role of women's education in family planning and suggested that an educated woman could influence her husband's actions during sexual intercourse. This statement received widespread criticism and condemnation.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Kumar of bringing shame to the state's women by discussing procreation in such detail. BJP members criticized Kumar's conduct, stating that he appeared to have lost all sense of propriety and urging him to be more mindful of his words and actions. They claimed that Kumar's behavior in public had been indiscreet on multiple occasions, potentially discouraging women and girls from attending his functions.
In contrast, Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav defended Nitish Kumar, emphasizing the need to interpret the comments in the right perspective and suggesting that such topics were part of sex education taught in schools. Congress MLA Neetu Devi, part of the ruling alliance, also stated that Kumar did not intend to be offensive and accused the BJP of misinterpreting his remarks.
