Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is under fire for remarks about women's education and population control (File).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a senior member of Bihar's ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal have traded barbs over the latter's comment Tuesday about the role of women's education in population control.
The PM, at a rally in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, referred to "a prominent leader of INDI alliance (the 28-member INDIA opposition bloc)" who had used "indecent language (shamelessly) in the Assembly".
"... prominent leader of INDI alliance used indecent language in the Assembly shamelessly. Not a single INDI alliance leader is speaking (against) it. How low will they stoop... and bring shame to the country."
"Those who watch TV will have seen yesterday... this ghamandiya (arrogant) alliance... this big leader of the INDI alliance used shameful language in the Assembly, where there were mothers and sisters, without any shame. Can such people work for you? Should you respect them?" the PM asked.
Hours later RJD leader Shivanand Tiwari hit back, wanting to know if the PM apologised for calling veteran Congress leader Sonia Gandhi a "Jersey cow". "Did the Prime Minister (ever) apologise for abusive language used against Sonia (Gandhi) ji and Shashi Tharoor's friend?" Mr Tiwari asked.
Mr Tiwari stressed Nitish Kumar had apologised "inside and outside" for his remark, which he acknowledged was wrong. "As soon as he (Nitish Kumar) realised he apologised."
"(But) the PM is criticising Nitish Kumar... what is the respect of women in (his) eyes? Are they forgetting they called Indira Gandhi's daughter-in-law, and Rajiv Gandhi's widow, a Jersey cow?"
"Nitish Kumar's words, for which he has apologised, seem to the Prime Minister to be an insult... but did he not find it insulting to (insult) Tharoor's friend. Everyone remembers he said "Rs 50 crore 'girlfriend'".
Over the course of the day multiple BJP leaders have ripped into Nitish Kumar - once an ally - for the "vulgar" comments about the role of women's education in population control; news agency ANI shared visuals of a mob outside Delhi's Bihar Bhawan with placards and effigies of the Chief Minister.
The BJP has also urged the people of Bihar to recall the Chief Minister's remarks when voting for the 2024 Lok Sabha election; the state has a not insignificant 40 seats and most of these were split between the BJP and Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United), which quit its alliance last year.
Eager to capitalise on Nitish Kumar's crass words, ahead of elections in five states this month and next year's general election, the BJP has dismissed his apology and demanded his resignation. And, like the Prime Minister, they have also attacked INDIA leaders, including Sonia Gandhi.
Union Minister Nityanand Rai - a Lok Sabha MP from Bihar's Ujiarpur - said Nitish Kumar had lost his "mental stability". He also attacked his deputy, Tejashwi Yadav, for defending the statement.
Nitish Kumar was also attacked by the BJP's Aparna Yadav, who is the daughter-in-law of the late Mulayam Singh Yadav, the patriarch of the Samajwadi Party. "First of all... being a woman I am angry. I don't think he should have said this... This kind of statement is shameful for the country..."
Her words were echoed by Vijay Kumar Sinha, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly. Mr Sinha said, "His statements shame women. The country saw how he embarrassed women... (he) has lost his memory... should resign... is no more worthy of sitting in Assembly..."
Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari said he had "lost respect" for the veteran politician.
"I have known Nitish Kumar since 2004. However, after listening to the statement, I have lost respect for him. How can a person say this... Nitish Kumar, after this statement seems, a gone case..."
BJP leaders from southern states were also quick to pounce on Nitish Kumar.
The party's Tamil Nadu boss, K Annamalai, attacked the Bihar leader for "obscene comments... about our mothers and sisters", and also took a two-for-one swipe at his state rival - the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. "... very unfortunately, Nitish Kumar, after joining INDIA (group) is speaking the language of DMK party... DMK party generally uses these words, this language..." he said.
Actor-politician Khushbu Sundar also slammed Nitish Kumar and demanded to know why women leaders in the INDIA bloc were still silent. "It is extremely disgraceful and appalling... what has happened to Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee? These women are quiet."
Earlier today Nitish Kumar, waylaid by reporters as he tried to enter the Bihar Assembly, said, "I take back my words if anyone (was) hurt". (My words) were not intended to hurt anybody."
READ | "If Words Wrong...": Nitish Kumar's Apology In Population Control Remark Row
The remark in question was made Tuesday during a debate on the contentious caste survey.
READ | On Nitish Kumar's Bizarre Comments, Tejashwi Yadav Says "Sex Education"
Based on the report, Nitish Kumar's government has passed a proposal to raise quotas for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs and EBCs - from the existing 50 per cent to 65 per cent.
READ | Nitish Kumar Wants Caste Quotas At 65%, Past Supreme Court Cap
The revised quotas - to which the centre's 10 per cent for Economically Weaker Sections must be added - will take reservations past the 50 per cent cap ordered by the Supreme Court in 1992.
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With input from agencies