Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a senior member of Bihar’s ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal have traded barbs over the latter’s comment Tuesday about the role of women’s education in population control.

The PM, at a rally in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, referred to “a prominent leader of INDI alliance (the 28-member INDIA opposition bloc)” who had used “indecent language (shamelessly) in the Assembly”. 

“… prominent leader of INDI alliance used indecent language in the Assembly shamelessly. Not a single INDI alliance leader is speaking (against) it. How low will they stoop… and bring shame to the country.”

“Those who watch TV will have seen yesterday… this ghamandiya (arrogant) alliance… this big leader of the INDI alliance used shameful language in the Assembly, where there were mothers and sisters, without any shame. Can such people work for you? Should you respect them?” the PM asked.

Hours later RJD leader Shivanand Tiwari hit back, wanting to know if the PM apologised for calling veteran Congress leader Sonia Gandhi a “Jersey cow”. “Did the Prime Minister (ever) apologise for abusive language used against Sonia (Gandhi) ji and Shashi Tharoor’s friend?” Mr Tiwari asked.

Mr Tiwari stressed Nitish Kumar had apologised “inside and outside” for his remark, which he acknowledged was wrong. “As soon as he (Nitish Kumar) realised he apologised.”

“(But) the PM is criticising Nitish Kumar… what is the respect of women in (his) eyes? Are they forgetting they called Indira Gandhi’s daughter-in-law, and Rajiv Gandhi’s widow, a Jersey cow?”

“Nitish Kumar’s words, for which he has apologised, seem to the Prime Minister to be an insult… but did he not find it insulting to (insult) Tharoor’s friend. Everyone remembers he said “Rs 50 crore ‘girlfriend'”.

Over the course of the day multiple BJP leaders have ripped into Nitish Kumar – once an ally – for the “vulgar” comments about the role of women’s education in population control; news agency ANI shared visuals of a mob outside Delhi’s Bihar Bhawan with placards and effigies of the Chief Minister.

The BJP has also urged the people of Bihar to recall the Chief Minister’s remarks when voting for the 2024 Lok Sabha election; the state has a not insignificant 40 seats and most of these were split between the BJP and Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), which quit its alliance last year.

Eager to capitalise on Nitish Kumar’s crass words, ahead of elections in five states this month and next year’s general election, the BJP has dismissed his apology and demanded his resignation. And, like the Prime Minister, they have also attacked INDIA leaders, including Sonia Gandhi.

Union Minister Nityanand Rai – a Lok Sabha MP from Bihar’s Ujiarpur – said Nitish Kumar had lost his “mental stability”. He also attacked his deputy, Tejashwi Yadav, for defending the statement.

Nitish Kumar was also attacked by the BJP’s Aparna Yadav, who is the daughter-in-law of the late Mulayam Singh Yadav, the patriarch of the Samajwadi Party. “First of all… being a woman I am angry. I don’t think he should have said this… This kind of statement is shameful for the country…”

#WATCH | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: On Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s statement on population control, BJP leader Aparna Yadav says, “First of all, being a woman, I am angry at the statement. I don’t think he should have made this statement… This kind of statement by Bihar’s CM is really… pic.twitter.com/gEEqrOvEuS

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) November 8, 2023

Her words were echoed by Vijay Kumar Sinha, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly. Mr Sinha said, “His statements shame women. The country saw how he embarrassed women… (he) has lost his memory… should resign… is no more worthy of sitting in Assembly…”

Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari said he had “lost respect” for the veteran politician.

“I have known Nitish Kumar since 2004. However, after listening to the statement, I have lost respect for him. How can a person say this… Nitish Kumar, after this statement seems, a gone case…”

#WATCH | BJP MP Manoj Tiwari says, “I have known Nitish Kumar since 2004. However, after listening to the statement, I have lost respect for him. How can a person say something like this on the floor of the state Assembly?… Nitish Kumar after this statement seems like a gone… pic.twitter.com/TlaPSRKjsZ

— ANI (@ANI) November 8, 2023

BJP leaders from southern states were also quick to pounce on Nitish Kumar.

The party’s Tamil Nadu boss, K Annamalai, attacked the Bihar leader for “obscene comments… about our mothers and sisters”, and also took a two-for-one swipe at his state rival – the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. “… very unfortunately, Nitish Kumar, after joining INDIA (group) is speaking the language of DMK party… DMK party generally uses these words, this language…” he said.

#WATCH | On Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s statement on population control, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai says, “We condemn it. A senior leader, like Nitish Kumar, has spoken about our mothers and sisters in a way that is very obscene, and we can call this totally cringe-worthy.… pic.twitter.com/9G4EPNj4ce

— ANI (@ANI) November 8, 2023

Actor-politician Khushbu Sundar also slammed Nitish Kumar and demanded to know why women leaders in the INDIA bloc were still silent. “It is extremely disgraceful and appalling… what has happened to Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee? These women are quiet.”

#WATCH | BJP leader and actor-turned-politician Khushbu Sundar slams Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on his derogatory remarks on population control made in the Legislative Assembly

“It’s extremely disgraceful and appalling to see the CM of Bihar making such statements in the… pic.twitter.com/0tBwbJZk7V

— ANI (@ANI) November 8, 2023

Earlier today Nitish Kumar, waylaid by reporters as he tried to enter the Bihar Assembly, said, “I take back my words if anyone (was) hurt”. (My words) were not intended to hurt anybody.”

READ | “If Words Wrong…”: Nitish Kumar’s Apology In Population Control Remark Row

The remark in question was made Tuesday during a debate on the contentious caste survey.

READ | On Nitish Kumar’s Bizarre Comments, Tejashwi Yadav Says “Sex Education”

Based on the report, Nitish Kumar’s government has passed a proposal to raise quotas for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs and EBCs – from the existing 50 per cent to 65 per cent.

READ | Nitish Kumar Wants Caste Quotas At 65%, Past Supreme Court Cap

The revised quotas – to which the centre’s 10 per cent for Economically Weaker Sections must be added – will take reservations past the 50 per cent cap ordered by the Supreme Court in 1992.

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With input from agencies

In formal settings, knowledge of the correct dining etiquette can be a game-changer. It can help you make the right impression and also help you connect better with those around you. Social media is full of tips and advice for how to consume certain dishes in the ‘proper’ manner. While some of these suggestions are undeniably helpful, others seem rather too strange. Moreover, some can be downright hilarious – such as a recent viral video by British etiquette coach William Hanson. This time, the food item in consideration is green peas. 

Also Read: Influencer Packs Caviar, Feta Salad And More In Son’s Lunchbox, Internet Reacts

In his Instagram reel, William demonstrates the ‘correct’ way of eating peas at a formal sit-down meal. A plate full of peas is set on the table in front of him. He explains, “You’re probably eating your peas incorrectly. What we never do with peas is shovel them onto the underside of the fork and bring them up to the mouth – because they fly everywhere and we don’t want that.” He shows viewers that this method indeed does not work. He continues, “Instead, using the back of your knife, push and spear some of the peas onto the tines of your fork.” Watch the complete reel below.

Also Read: Coconut Egg Is The Latest Bizarre Food Combo On Twitter, Would You Try It?

Since being posted less than a week ago, the video has already received a staggering 43 million views so far. The comment section has exploded with different types of remarks, which mainly express amusement or sarcasm. Very few Instagram users seem to have found it truly useful. In general, it seems to have left the internet in splits. Read some of the reactions below:

“You dropped one… An escapea, if you will.”

“Spoon enters the room”

“Can I use a boba straw?”

“I balance them on a knife.”

“People eat these? I pick it out of rice.”

“How about I pull out a plastic spoon out of my pocket?”

“”Spear peas into the tines of your fork” – probably the only time in human history this sentence has been uttered.”

“You’ll finish your dinner in time for breakfast.”

“Indians laughing in the background.”

“Not even joking, this is genuinely some of the most useful information that I’ve ever gotten from Instagram. Ever!”

Before this, a video by the same etiquette coach on eating a burger took the internet by storm. In this case, too, Instagram users had a lot to say about his suggestions – and hardly anyone seemed convinced. Check out the full story here.

Also Read: Wait, What? Man Sliced Watermelons On Own Belly To Set World Record, Video Is Viral

Five members of two Indian-origin families in Australia, including two children, were killed when a luxury SUV ploughed into a packed outdoor dining area of a pub in Melbourne, leaving the Indian community devastated.

Vivek Bhatia (38), his son Vihan (11), Pratibha Sharma (44), her daughter, Anvi (nine), and partner Jatin Chugh (30) died after the BMW mounted a kerb and hit patrons on the front lawn of the Royal Daylesford hotel on Sunday evening, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Ms Sharma and her family were enjoying a holiday with family friends, Mr Bhatia and his son Vihaan, who died instantly in the crash, while Mr Bhatia’s 36-year-old wife, Ruchi, and six-year-old son Abeer were taken to hospital with serious injuries, the report said.

Abeer was initially in critical condition with broken legs and internal injuries but has since been stabilised.

There are many others, including a baby, who were injured in the accident and have been shifted to a hospital for treatment.

The driver of the white BMW Sports Utility Vehicle has been interviewed by police in hospital following the crash.

The unnamed man, a 66-year-old from Mount Macedon, was spoken to by police on Tuesday but was not arrested or charged.

“At this time the driver has not been charged, with inquiries to continue after his eventual release from care,” a police statement provided to the Herald Sun said.

Meanwhile, the distraught family of one of the crash victims, Sharma, has revealed their final conversation with the beloved mum.

Her father Vikas said she had spoken to her mother Urmila just two hours before her death.

“She said they were staying in a beautiful house all together,” he told the Herald Sun.

Urmila said: “She said: tomorrow I will come (home) early”.

She said they tried to call Pratibha later that night but there was “no reply”.

“We thought it was okay and there was no need to disturb them because they were enjoying themselves,” he said, expressing his disbelief at his hardworking daughter’s untimely death.

“Why? Why? I don’t understand,” he said. “Her whole life she struggled, worked hard. Her beautiful daughter is also dead.” The Sharma family were from Point Cook, near Tarneit.

A close family friend of Sharma’s said she had just found love after spending years as a single mother.

Sharma, who once ran for Victorian parliament for the seat of Werribee as an independent candidate, worked as a registered migration agent before recently becoming a lawyer.

The horror crash has left the small Victorian town north of Melbourne in a state of shock and grief. The Indian community is in mourning following their deaths, with multiple people taking to social media to express their grief.

“Very shocking news, one of our friends and our Australian Sikh Support dedicated volunteer Pratibha Sharma from Melbourne, her husband Jatin, their daughter Anvi and their two friends, died in an unfortunate accident,” one user wrote.

“Pratibha always along with her family members have worked tirelessly for volunteer initiatives for the community.” Another user said it was a “big loss for our community”.

“Very shocking and saddened to hear about Pratibha Sharma, her husband Jatin Chugh, their daughter Anvi, another Indian community member, Vivek Bhatia and his son’s demise in Daylesford’s tragic car crash,” another wrote.

The driver’s lawyer Martin Amad said he was an insulin-dependent diabetic who required immediate treatment from paramedics at the scene.

He noted his client was a family man with no criminal history and he returned a negative blood alcohol reading after the crash.

“He is deeply distressed and feels great empathy with the families and friends of the victims and the Daylesford community,” Mr Amad said on Wednesday.