Sex-Ed Remark: Mary Millben, National Anthem Singer During Modi's US Visit, Demands Nitish Kumar's Resignation

Mary Millben, a known supporter of PM Modi, came to his support in August when the Opposition sought to corner the Prime Minister over the violence in Manipur.

American Singer Mary Millben has demanded Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's resignation over his comments on sex education.

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American singer and actor Mary Millben, who sang India's national anthem during PM Narendra Modi's visit to the US earlier this year, has demanded Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his comments on the importance of women in sex education. She also urged the Bharatiya Janata Party to "empower a woman to lead in Bihar" in the next elections. 

Slamming Nitish Kumar, Millben said: "Today, India faces a defining moment. Right in Bihar. Where the value of women is being challenged. And I believe there is only one answer to this challenge. After Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Ji’s comments, I believe a courageous woman needs to step up and declare her candidacy to run for Chief Minister of Bihar. If I were a citizen of India, I would move to Bihar and run for Chief Minister."

Referring to the Hebrew Bible, she said: "Queen Esther was admonished by her cousin Mordecai to boldly approach her husband, the King, to help save her Jewish people. It was Mordecai who challenged Esther to see her place as Queen, her place and time in the kingdom, as a defining moment to save her Jewish people. Mordecai said to Esther, “who knows but that you Esther have come to the kingdom, made Queen, for such a time as this?”

"I believe the time is now for Nitish Kumar to resign and for an Esther to arise in Bihar," she said in an X post.

Earlier this week, Nitish Kumar landed in trouble when he sought to describe a matrimonial union in a "crass manner" to explain the importance of women's education for population control during a discussion in the Bihar Assembly. The BJP has demanded his resignation over the comments and also urged the Speaker to expunge his comments.

Millben, who was earlier in the news in India for singing the national anthem — "Jana Gana Mana..." — also referred to Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan and said that one must follow what the actor said in the movie, "Vote and bring change."

After Millben performed in front of PM Modi at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington DC, she touched the Prime Minister's feet, the video of which was widely shared. 

Millben, who is a known supporter of PM Modi, came out in his support in August when the Opposition sought to corner the Prime Minister over the violence in Manipur. Reacting to the Opposition's attack on the BJP's failure to contain the violence and sack Manipur CM N Biren Singh back then, she had said: "To associate with a party that dishonours cultural legacy, denies children the right to sing the anthem of its country, and degrades one’s country abroad, this is not leadership. This is unprincipled."