'Demand immediate apology': NCW condemns Nitish Kumar's graphic description of 'population control'

The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Tuesday demanded an “immediate and unequivocal apology” from Bihar CM Nitish Kumar for his bizarre remarks on the importance of women’s education to control population.

NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma said on X, formerly known as twitter, “His (Nitish Kumar) crass remarks in the Vidhan Sabha are an affront to the dignity and respect that every woman deserves. Such derogatory and cheap language used during his speech is a dark stain on our society.”

On behalf of every woman in this country, as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Women, I demand an immediate and unequivocal apology from the Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar. His crass remarks in the Vidhan Sabha are an affront to the dignity and respect that… https://t.co/xNom7jqnzq

— Rekha Sharma (@sharmarekha) November 7, 2023

In his address in the Bihar Assembly on Tuesday, Kumar used derogatory language to explain the role of education and the role of women in population control.

In a video, the Bihar Chief Minister can be heard saying “The husband’s acts led to more births. However, with education, a woman knows how to restrain him…this is the reason the numbers (of births) are coming down.”

Kumar also claimed that if a girl is matriculate, the fertility rate on an average comes down to two per cent, and if she has completed school education, it further falls to 1.7 per cent nationally.

Soon after the controversy, Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav said, “Let me tell you one thing. It is wrong if someone misinterprets it. The remarks of the CM were regarding sex education. People are hesitant whenever the topic of sex education is discussed. This is now taught in schools. Science and biology are taught in schools. Children learn it. He said what should be done practically to stop the increase in population. This should not be taken in a wrong manner. It should be taken as a sex education.”

On Kumar’s remarks, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, “The language used by Mr Nitish Kumar inside the assembly is most vulgar, indecent, most misogynistic, sexist and patriarchal.”

He added, “This is the mindset of the chief minister of Bihar. Imagine what will be the plight of women of Bihar if such a language is spoken in the Bihar assembly.”

Women legislators also criticised Kumar’s bizarre remarks. BJP MLA Nikki Hembrom said, “Whatever he was saying he could have said it with dignity. He is insensitive and he does not respect women.”

With inputs from agencies