"I apologize, and I take back my words" Nitish Kumar apologizes for controversial population control remark

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has issued an apology for the comments he made regarding women's education and population control, which were widely criticized as "vulgar" by the opposition BJP. Kumar on Tuesday sparked a controversy, while stressing the importance of education among women to control the population. He had put forward a vivid description in the state assembly of how an educated woman can restrain her husband during sexual intercourse. During a session in the state Assembly, Nitish Kumar explained the decrease in Bihar's fertility rate from 4.2 to 2.9 percent, but his choice of language led to intense backlash. 

"I apologize, and I take back my words. If my words were wrong, I apologize. If anyone got hurt, I take them back," Nitish Kumar stated. He clarified that his intention was to emphasize the importance of education for population control and women's empowerment. "The husband's acts led to more births. However, with education, a woman knows how to restrain him... this is the reason the numbers (of births) are coming down...You, journalists also understand it well: he said.

The remarks were met with strong criticism from the BJP, who described them as "shameful," "disgusting," and "vulgar." The National Commission for Women chief, Rekha Sharma, also called for Nitish Kumar to issue an apology.

Nitish Kumar received support from his deputy, Tejashwi Yadav, who claimed that the Chief Minister was discussing sex education in schools. According to Tejashwi Yadav, Nitish Kumar was addressing the need for practical sex education.