Patna, March 7: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday sparked controversy in the state legislative council by reacting sharply when opposition RJD members raised concerns about inadequate girls' schools in their constituencies.
The heated exchange started when RJD Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Urmila Thakur expressed dissatisfaction with Education Minister Sunil Kumar’s response to her query. Highlighting the educational difficulties faced by girls in her district, Begusarai, Thakur pointed out, "In many villages, girls are deprived of education because the nearest school is four to five kilometers away."
Visibly irritated by Thakur's remarks, Chief Minister Kumar, known for championing women’s empowerment initiatives in Bihar, retorted from his seat: “Do you people even know what we have done for girls' education? Village girls hardly went to schools in Bihar until we came to power.”
Reacting calmly, Thakur replied, “Sir, please don’t say that. I too hail from a village. Even though I belong to an older generation, I managed to complete my schooling.”
The situation escalated further when another RJD MLC, Munni Devi Rajak, reminded the Chief Minister, "We have the right to question the government. It is your job to answer it." Thakur, sensing rising tension, urged her colleague to allow her to continue.
However, Kumar stood up and confronted the opposition fiercely: “You have no idea what we have done for women. You may be women yourselves, but what has been your contribution?”
In his outburst, Kumar directly attacked Rabri Devi, his predecessor and current Leader of the Opposition in the legislative council, remarking, "When her husband began to sink, he installed his wife (as Chief Minister)." This reference was towards RJD chief Lalu Prasad, who had made Rabri Devi the Chief Minister after resigning due to legal troubles in the fodder scam case.
He further alleged, “Your party (RJD) did nothing. You people know nothing. Whatever has been done for women, it has been done by me. Now, women have no problems."
Education Minister Sunil Kumar appeared stunned by the heated debate. Chairman Awadhesh Narain Singh intervened, requesting opposition members to calm down and restore order in the House.
After Chief Minister Kumar exited the legislative council, another RJD MLC, Sunil Kumar Singh, objected to Kumar’s disrespectful manner of referring to Rabri Devi's husband as "iske (her) husband." Singh urged the Chairman to expunge the remark, stating, "Her husband is a giant leader known to all. The way the leader of the House referred to him was uncalled for."
However, Chairman Singh dismissed the request, ruling that the remark contained nothing unparliamentary.
The incident has attracted attention and criticism, highlighting the sensitive nature of women's educational facilities in Bihar.
Last updated by a enewsx: