"Third-grade statement...," Union Minister RK Singh rips into Bihar CM over birth control remarks

Nov 08, 2023

New Delhi [India], November 8 : Coming down heavily on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over his distasteful remarks on women and birth control in the state Assembly, Union Power Minister RK Singh called it a "third-grade statement."
"We feel ashamed that he's our state's CM. I think each person in Bihar must be ashamed that their CM is using such obscene language in the Assembly. It's a third-grade statement...Nitish Kumar has lost his mind," RK Singh said on Wednesday.
Speaking on the floor of the Assembly, the Bihar CM said women should be educated as it would enable them to avoid sexual intercourse resulting in pregnancy.
The remark drew outrage from the BJP as well as the National Commission for Women (NCW), which demanded that he tender an unconditional apology.
While addressing a press conference today, NCW's Chairperson Rekha Sharma said that yesterday's statement of the Bihar CM was derogatory; the way he spoke was like a C-grade movie dialogue in the Assembly.

"Yesterday's statement by the Bihar CM was derogatory; we are deeply concerned with this...The way he spoke was like a C-grade movie dialogue in the Assembly in front of women and the worst was that the men sitting behind him were laughing.
She further said that Bihar's CM's actions and gestures were almost like an ugly joke.
"The worst is this the Speaker hasn't expunged them yet...Bihar Assembly Speaker should take steps against him, his statements must be expunged," she added.
The chief minister made the remarks while underlining the need for girls' education to check population growth.
In a video, the Bihar CM was heard saying that the state's fertility rate, which was earlier at 4.3 per cent, has dropped to 2.9 per cent, as per a report last year.
Meanwhile, after a row over his birth control remarks, the Bihar CM apologised for his remarks in the state Assembly on the role of women in population growth.
"I apologise and I take back my words...," Kumar told reporters after BJP legislators did not allow him to enter the legislative assembly.
Defending Nitish Kumar, Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav said it was wrong to misinterpret the chief minister's remarks as he was only talking about sex education.
"It is wrong if someone misinterprets it. The CM's remarks pertained to sex education. People are often hesitant when it comes to sex education. It is now being taught in schools just as other subjects are. Children are learning about it. He only said what should be done to control population. His words should be taken in their proper sense," Yadav said.