Uttarakhand women & child minister’s husband sparks outrage with ‘girls in Bihar for Rs 20-25k’ comments

Girdhari Lal Sahu (Image: ANI)

• Girdhari Lal Sahu's remarks about women sparked outrage and political backlash
• Bihar Women's Commission and others demand apology and action over the statement
• Sahu claims his comments were misrepresented and says he respects women

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A controversy has erupted after Girdhari Lal Sahu, the husband of Uttarakhand women and child development minister Rekha Arya, made objectionable remarks about women.

A video of his comment is going viral on social media, where he can be heard saying, “Will you get married in old age? If you’re unable to get married… we’ll bring a girl for you from Bihar-- you can get one there for Rs 20000-25,000.”

He was speaking at an event in the Someshwar constituency of Almora. “Come with me, we’ll get you married,” he said.

His remarks caused a huge uproar, with the Bihar State Women's Commission (BSWC) taking suo-motu cognisance of the comment. Speaking to ANI, Apsara, chairperson of Bihar Mahila Aayog, said, "This statement reflects his intellectual bankruptcy. When the women of Bihar are reaching new heights. You are making such statements about the women of Bihar, which is reprehensible."

"The Women's Commission is taking suo motu cognisance and sending him a letter," she added.

Uttarakhand Mahila Congress president Jyoti Rautela also responded to the controversy, calling his statement “shameful” and seeking an apology. “He should sincerely apologise for his statement. We should also look into why such a statement was made,” she said.

Amid the controversy, Sahu said he holds the utmost respect for women.

“In my address, I mentioned the marriage of one of my friends. Opposition leaders including the Congress have twisted that discussion and presented it in the media, which is completely wrong,” he was quote in a report by The Print.

Calling the remark deeply offensive, Bihar BJP spokesperson Prabhakar Mishra said it insulted not just the women of Bihar but women across the country, and called for action against those responsible.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also took to X and launched an attack at BJP over Sahu’s remarks. Sharing his remarks on X, the party wrote, “In this video, the man speaking on the mic is Girdhari Lal Sahu, the husband of Rekha Arya, a minister in the BJP government in Uttarakhand. The minister's husband is saying that he will bring girls from Bihar for 20-25 thousand rupees and get them married off. This is BJP's real thinking on women's honour.”