A major political controversy erupted on Saturday following an alleged derogatory remark attributed to Girdhari Lal Sahu, the husband of Uttarakhand minister Rekha Arya, about the marriage prospects of women from Bihar. The incident has triggered widespread condemnation and angry protests from political leaders and activists in Bihar.
Viral Video and Alleged Derogatory Remarks
The controversy stems from a video that went viral from BJP-ruled Uttarakhand. In the clip, Sahu is purportedly seen interacting with a group of young men. During the conversation, he inquires about their marital status and then suggests that marriages could be arranged with "Bihar girls at low cost," specifically mentioning a price range of Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000.
Fierce Political Backlash and Demands for Action
The alleged comment drew immediate and severe reactions from Bihar's political fraternity. Independent MP from Purnia, Pappu Yadav, launched a scathing attack, demanding extreme punishment. "People must chop off the tongues of persons making derogatory remarks," Yadav stated. He further added that such individuals should either be eliminated through speedy trials or have their tongues chopped off. The MP accused some of making such statements solely for "political gains" while ignoring larger issues of public concern and poverty.
Adding to the pressure, MLA IP Gupta announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for anyone who brings Girdhari Lal Sahu to Bihar to face consequences for his statement.
Street Protests and Effigy Burning
The reaction was not confined to verbal condemnation. Workers of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), particularly its women's wing, took to the streets in protest. They burnt an effigy of Girdhari Lal Sahu as a symbolic act of anger and disapproval. A spokesman for the RJD emphasized that the protest served as a clear warning that such insulting comments against the people of Bihar would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
The incident has deepened political tensions and brought issues of regional dignity and gender respect to the forefront, with leaders across parties uniting in their condemnation of the alleged remarks.
