A political row has erupted in Bihar after state education minister Mithilesh Tiwari made comments on girls’ education that went viral on social media. The controversy stems from a video in which he allegedly questioned the need for girls’ education and suggested that daughters should stay at home instead of participating in protests or public demonstrations.
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The remarks drew widespread criticism on the Internet.
In the viral video, Tiwari is seen saying, “I mean what is the need for education? Daughters of our home are our strength. They are the basis of our prosperity and what is the need of a daughter when she comes on the road, Modi has come to bind women power. That way you will get your rights. (What I mean is what is the need of education in our home? Our foundation is our Shakti daughters). Why should those daughters come to the streets when Narendra Modi stands for her empowerment women?
Watch the video here:
Mithilesh Tiwari is a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Baikunthpur constituency in Gopalganj district. According to the blog’s official source, he started his early career by providing tuition fees and running a small coaching institute in Patna.
Source: mithileshkrtiwari.com.
What did former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar do for girls’ education?
Under the leadership of Nitish Kumar, several policies aimed at women were introduced which significantly affected his popularity among women voters in Bihar.
These include 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies along with 35% reservation in government positions, which has expanded women’s representation in administration and employment.
The bicycle distribution system for schoolgirls has helped improve access to education, especially in rural areas, by reducing travel barriers.
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In addition, financial assistance programs to support girls’ education and marriage have eased the economic burden on families and encouraged greater investment in girls’ futures.
According to a NITI Aayog (2017) assessment report, Nitish Kumar aimed to build 70,000 new classrooms and hire 300,000 teachers, while also introducing a pioneering schoolgirl bicycle scheme that increased female secondary school enrollment from 300,000 to 1.8 million.
Initiatives aimed at increasing women’s participation in agriculture have also sought to strengthen their role in rural livelihoods and economic activities.
Liquor ban in Bihar was another major policy, often seen as a social reform move to improve household stability and reduce social and financial problems.
Mithlesh Tiwari’s Political Journey
He started his political journey in 1988 with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, in 1990 he entered active politics by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party.
He served as state minister of BJP Kriya Manch in 1996, became its state vice-president in 1998 and held the position again in 2000. Later, he held several key posts including state general secretary, state vice-president, member of the national executive and was also in charge of Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand.
During the RJD rule, he was fielded by the BJP for the first time in the February 2005 elections from Kateya, where he lost to BSP candidate Amrendra Kumar Pandey alias Pappu Pandey.
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In 2015, when JD(U) and BJP contested separately, the party nominated him from Baikunthpur, where he won by defeating candidates from JD(U) and RJD.
Earlier on Thursday, the Bihar government underwent a major cabinet reshuffle, with 32 ministers, including senior officials and first-time legislators, sworn in at a grand ceremony at Gandhi Maidan in Patna.
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The expansion followed the formation of a new government by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary decided to strengthen the administrative set-up after the coalition secured a strong electoral mandate.
I mean, what is the need for education? Our daughters in our homes are our Shakti.
The expansion follows the formation of the NDA government in the state after a decisive electoral mandate. As part of the expansion, leaders from BJP (15), Janata Dal (United States) (13), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (2), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) (1) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (1) were inducted into the Council of Ministers.
(With input from agencies)
Key things
- The controversy highlights the ongoing tension over women’s education and empowerment in Bihar.
- Tiwari’s remarks reflect wider societal attitudes towards women’s roles in India.
- The backlash illustrates the power of social media in fueling public dissent against political statements.
