'Mahila ho, jaanti nahi ho': Nitish Kumar's response to RJD MLA creates stir; Tejashwi calls it 'uncivilised'

This is not the first time Kumar has sparked a controversy with his speeches in the Bihar Assembly.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s remark “Mahila ho, jaanti nahi ho (you are a woman, you don’t know)” directed at RJD Masaurhi MLA Rekha Paswan at the state assembly has evoked strong reactions.

RJD’s Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, called the remarks “uncivilised and undesirable”. Leader of the opposition in the state legislative council, Rabri Devi, said, "This has not happened for the first time with the CM. People know that he (CM) has no respect for women. Whatever he has done today in the assembly, is sheer insult to women.

The Bihar CM was explaining to the state assembly how his regime had moved the Supreme Court against Patna High Court scrapping its decision to raise reservation from 50 per cent to 65 per cent. He also said the state had requested the Centre to include Bihar’s demand for an increase in quota in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution to provide it legal and constitutional immunity.

The Opposition started shouting and raising slogans while Kumar was speaking. The RJD women legislators were vocally protesting, chanting "Nitish Kumar Hai Hai" (Down with Nitish Kumar). The Bihar CM then lost his cool. “Mahila ho, jaanti nahi ho.” Amid an almost instantaneous reaction from the Opposition, he said, “Arre bol rahi hai.. Kahan se aake? In logon ke saath aake. In logon ne mahila ko aage badhaya tha? (She is at least speaking. You know how? She has come this far despite keeping the company of these people (RJD). Do you think they ever promoted women?”

RJD MLA Rekha Devi later told PTI that Kumar’s comments were “insulting to a woman”. “We are here today because of our leader and party supremo Lalu Prasad and not because of Nitish Kumar. He has insulted a Dalit legislator today in the house. It seems that he (CM) has no control over his mind," she said.

Meanwhile, JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar defended the CM. Kumar said the CM’s “speech should be listened to in full rather than taking out a portion to use for a political purpose”.

This is not the first time Kumar has sparked a controversy with his speeches in the Bihar Assembly. In November 2023, he had said women should be educated as it would enable them to avoid sexual intercourse from resulting in pregnancy.