Lalu's sexist jibe at Nitish sparks furore, JDU seeks apology

PATNA: RJD president Lalu Prasad courted controversy Tuesday with a sexist remark targeting Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's upcoming Mahila Samvad Yatra, a state-wide programme designed to engage directly with women and assess the effectiveness of govt initiatives before next year's assembly elections.
During an interaction with reporters, 76-year-old Lalu commented on Nitish's initiative by saying "Nayan sekne ja rahe hain" - a phrase that can be interpreted as staring or leering at someone. Lalu repeated the remark twice, suggesting it was deliberate and not a slip of the tongue.
The comment has drawn widespread condemnation from NDA politicians, with many describing it as an insult to women and Nitish's efforts at their empowerment.
Nitish's party JDU condemned Lalu's remark and demanded an apology. "No amount of condemnation would be enough," JDU working president Sanjay Kumar Jha said, while calling the comment a reflection of a "disgraceful mindset".
Jha highlighted Nitish's transformative policies for women, including 50% reservation in panchayati raj institutions, 35% reservation in govt jobs, the ban on liquor, and the success of the Jeevika initiative, which has empowered 1.4 crore women in rural Bihar. "The person behind such transformation deserves a Bharat Ratna," he said.
Politicians from BJP, Nitish's ally in NDA, also condemned Lalu's comment. Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary termed the language "unfortunate" and raised concerns about Lalu's physical and mental health. "Such words reflect poorly on his condition," Choudhary said.
Vijay Kumar Sinha, another deputy CM, accused Lalu of "defaming Bihar". He said: "The state wants to be free from such people."