The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) intensified its criticism of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday, accusing him of disrespecting women through his remarks and alleged inappropriate gestures in the state assembly.
Following a walkout by RJD legislators from the assembly, former Chief Minister Rabri Devi launched a scathing attack on Nitish Kumar, alleging that he consumes intoxicating substances before entering the House.
"Nitish Kumar consumes 'bhang' and then comes to the assembly. He disrespects women, including me. He should reflect on the work we did when we were in power," Rabri Devi claimed.
She further suggested that the Chief Minister merely repeats what is told to him. "He speaks only what those around him tell him to say. Even members of his own party, as well as some BJP leaders, are prompting him to make such remarks," she added.
This controversy follows Nitish Kumar’s recent outburst in the legislative council, where he used provocative language while referring to former Chief Ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi.
"Jab iske husband doob gaye to apni wife ko bana diya" ("When her husband was sinking, he made his wife the Chief Minister"), Nitish remarked, referencing Lalu Prasad Yadav’s decision to install Rabri Devi as his successor after he was forced to resign due to an arrest warrant in the fodder scam case.
RJD leader and Leader of Opposition in the assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, also criticised Nitish Kumar, accusing him of repeatedly making inappropriate gestures in the House.
"We now feel pity and sympathy for Nitish ji. He has reached a stage where we must pray for his health. His actions and statements in the assembly clearly indicate that something is not right," Tejashwi said.
He further alleged that Nitish Kumar often makes objectionable gestures, particularly towards women.
"Even when he sits in the assembly, he makes various gestures. If a woman wears a bindi, he gestures towards it. We demand the release of the assembly video footage showing these gestures," he stated.
This episode follows an earlier heated exchange between Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav in the assembly.
During a speech, the Chief Minister claimed that he was responsible for shaping Lalu Prasad Yadav’s political career and recalled the state of Bihar under RJD rule from 1994 to 2005.
As Nitish spoke, Tejashwi interrupted him, prompting the Chief Minister to respond, "What was Bihar like earlier? It was me who made your father what he became. Even people from your own caste questioned why I was supporting him, but I still did."
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