On the third day of the Bihar Assembly’s monsoon session, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s remarks on caste-based enumeration created a stir. As Nitish Kumar attempted to clarify his position, opposition leaders began disrupting the session, leading to a chaotic atmosphere. In the ensuing commotion, Kumar, visibly frustrated, made a remark directed at RJD MLA Rekha Devi, which further inflamed tensions.
VIDEO | CM Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) speaks in #Bihar Assembly amid protest by the opposition.
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— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 24, 2024
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Kumar, addressing Devi, said, ‘You are a woman, and you don’t know anything. Today you are speaking as a woman.’ His comment led to an uproar in the Assembly, with opposition members protesting vehemently. Kumar later attempted to explain his remarks, accusing his critics of speaking nonsense and defending his actions on caste enumeration.
RJD MLA Rekha Devi confirmed that Kumar’s comments were aimed at her. She criticized the Chief Minister for his contradictory stance on women’s empowerment, noting that his remarks were disappointing given his earlier statements on the issue.
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In the Assembly, Nitish Kumar appeared to be on the defensive as the INDIA alliance, the opposition coalition, holds a significant presence with 106 out of 243 seats. The RJD, Bihar’s largest opposition party, controls 72 seats, while the NDA, led by the BJP, has a majority with 133 seats. Kumar’s party, JDU, holds 47 seats. Amid the ruckus, Kumar struggled to maintain his composure and defend his position.
The INDIA alliance leaders had been advocating for the inclusion of reservations in the Ninth Schedule. Kumar responded by asserting that all actions related to reservations were based on the caste-based enumeration and reiterated that opposition parties had supported him when he first proposed the caste survey.
Kumar has faced controversy before; in November 2023, he made a contentious statement about women during a debate on population control, which was deemed offensive by opposition parties.
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Kumar is currently in the spotlight due to the special funds allocated to Bihar in the central budget, which he had previously sought in his demand for special state status. Critics argue that the budget allocation is politically motivated to support Kumar’s role in maintaining the Modi government.
