A video of Bihar education minister Mithilesh Tiwari has gone viral on social media, where he said girls did not need education and should remain inside their homes. The clip triggered a political controversy days after Tiwari took charge as Bihar’s education minister on May 9.In the circulating clip, a reporter can also be heard saying that education is a right for girls, to which the minister replies, “What is the need for education? The daughters of our homes are our strength, they are the foundation of our prosperity. And why do those daughters need to come out on the streets when Modi ji is standing up for women’s empowerment?”The remarks quickly drew criticism. The viral video was widely shared by political leaders, party handles and social media users. Former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia reposted the clip and criticised the BJP, while Congress youth wing Indian Youth Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party’s social media accounts also shared the video.“That is why I hate the BJP…The BJP believes that educating girls is wrong. If you do not believe it, then listen to this statement by their education minister. Not just girls’ education, the BJP’s thinking is also against good education for Dalits. In fact, they are against giving quality education to every child,” Sisodia wrote on X.Tiwari, a first-time minister and BJP MLA from Baikunthpur in Gopalganj district, was previously a teacher and had also run a coaching institute in Patna before entering active politics.
