A WAR of words broke out between NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi over Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s remarks on the importance of women’s education to control the population.

The Bihar Chief Minister, while emphasising the importance of education among women to control the population, put forward a vivid description in the State Assembly on Tuesday of how an educated woman can restrain her husband during sexual intercourse. The National Commission for Women (NCW) strongly criticised Kumar’s statements, labelling them as regressive and profoundly insensitive to women’s rights and choices. The NCW called for an apology from the chief minister, asserting that his offensive remarks affected women across the country. Chief Minister Kumar apologised for his remarks on Wednesday.

 

NCW chief Rekha Sharma took to social media, demanding an immediate and clear apology from Kumar. She condemned his derogatory language and emphasised the need for accountability. Sharma also tagged other prominent female leaders, including Priyanka Chaturvedi of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of the Congress and Atishi of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), urging them to condemn Kumar’s remarks and demand an apology. “It will be good if the champions of the women’s cause @priyankac19 @priyankagandhi @BDUTT @AtishiAAP and their friend join in to condemn and demand apology from @NitishKumar,” Sharma posted. Chaturvedi, in response, said selective silence and selectively action are doing a huge disservice to Sharma’s chair as NCW chief which is supposedly non-partisan.

 

“My dear biased, politically motivated Madam, I do unequivocally condemn any language used for women which is derogatory-irrespective of my politics, even if it comes from an ally. I am also certain that Chief Minister will revisit his usage of words and apologise. Unfortunately as far as I recall, whenever we expected you to stand up for women, you chose selective silence and selectively action- doing a huge disservice to your chair as NCW which is supposedly nonpartisan,” the MP replied. Sharma hit back at Chaturvedi.