Bihar Assembly in Uproar as Tejashwi Yadav Says ‘Women Are Sold’ During Budget Debate

Patna: The Bihar Legislative Assembly witnessed a massive uproar on Thursday when Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav sharply criticized the government during the budget session, triggering heated protests from ruling party members.

During a discussion on the Governor’s address, Tejashwi Yadav accused the state government of a culture defined by “false praise and 100 percent negligence.” Taking aim at the administration’s handling of governance, he also made a controversial remark about women, stating, “Sir, before the elections, the government gave ₹10,000 each to women. Sir, women are sold.” His comment immediately sparked slogans of protest from NDA members, including BJP and JD(U) legislators. Responding to the uproar, Tejashwi accused the ruling side of turning “democracy into a system of fear.”

Reflecting on 11 years in the Assembly since first being elected in 2015, Tejashwi noted that most Governors’ speeches repeat old content, with officials preparing the text and the Governor merely reading it aloud. “The reality behind these words is known to the people of Bihar and even to those within the ruling party,” he said.

Tejashwi further criticized the government’s long-term administration, asserting that the state now has two defining traits: “false praise and total negligence.” He condemned the misuse of public funds, saying that democracy has been overtaken by money and machinery, and accused the government of promoting “destruction alongside injustice” rather than development with justice.

Despite being in a numerical minority, Tejashwi vowed that the opposition will continue to raise public concerns and hold the government accountable. “When it comes to Bihar’s development, we stand with the people, but we will mirror the government’s mistakes,” he declared.