During the budget debate in Rajasthan Assembly, a BJP MLA’s remark has sparked controversy. The MLA made a controversial remark by comparing the budget to the birth of male child.
MLA of Weir constituency, Bahadur Singh Koli while supporting the recent budget presented by Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari, crossed all lines, he said BJP government’s budgets till date are just like giving birth to a “boy”. He did not stop there, Koli went on to say that the budgets presented by the Congress government was like giving birth to a “girl” child.
Justifying his statement, Koli stopped even low, he made a shocking statement like a government that “gives birth to a son in its youth” is always productive, and the previous government produced “girl child,” and thus the previous government is in Opposition.
Congress’ reaction to the comment by Bahadur Singh Koli?
Bahadur Singh Koli’s comment was immediately opposed by the opposition. The Leader of the Opposition Tika Ram Jully said the statement by the MLA was sexist and offensive. Jully even pointed out that such a thought process shows the regressive mindset and should never be a part of democratic legislature. Jully said, “I have two daughters myself. One of them has just been married. Yet BJP MLAs continue to make jokes about daughters. It is shameful that this mentality still exists.”
Jully further demanded that the ruling party must give a formal response. Jully noted that there is no place for gender-based comparisons in such important discussion like the state budget.
How did Koli defend his remark on budget?
After receiving backlash on his gender-based comment, Koli started defending himself which made the statement even worse. He said his statement was a part of Brijbhasha, a local dialect. “What was wrong in what I said? I only meant that a strong budget has been presented — that a chhora has been born.”
He even explained that Congress had previously presented a populist, election-oriented budget, and that he compared it to “birth of a girl child.” Post the remark, controversy has been sparked by opposition leaders, Congress is accusing the ruling BJP government of supporting and propagating discriminatory views toward women.
