Girdhari Lal Sahu, the husband of Uttarakhand minister Rekha Arya, has landed in a major controversy after allegedly making a derogatory remark about women from Bihar. Sahu reportedly said that “girls from Bihar could be brought for marriage for Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000”. The remark, made during a public event in Almora last month, triggered widespread outrage across political parties and women’s rights bodies.
Video shows Uttarakhand minister Rekha Arya’s husband Girdhari Lal making a crude remark, saying “girls are available for Rs 20–25k in Bihar,” sparking outrage and calls for accountability.#Uttarakhand #GirdhariLal #RekhaAryapic.twitter.com/KcFknSFtN8
— Buzz Alerts (@BuzzAlertsLive) January 3, 2026
Sahu Issues Apology
Rekha Arya’s husband apologised on video after backlash over his controversial remark, saying it was inappropriate and taken out of context.#GirdhariLal #RekhaArya #Uttarakhand pic.twitter.com/koH54JhBuK
— Buzz Alerts (@BuzzAlertsLive) January 3, 2026
BJP Distances Itself from Remarks
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Uttarakhand unit strongly condemned the statement and sought to distance itself from Sahu. BJP state media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan said the party has no connection with Sahu and does not endorse such views. He added that the BJP firmly condemns statements reflecting hateful or derogatory attitudes towards women.
Congress Demands Accountability
The Congress party launched a sharp attack on the BJP, calling Sahu’s remarks an insult to women across India. State Congress president Ganesh Godiyal said the comment demeaned women from Bihar, Uttarakhand, and other states. Congress Mahila Morcha president Jyoti Rautela described the remarks as shameful, particularly since Sahu’s wife holds the women and child welfare portfolio.
Women’s Commission Takes Action
The Bihar State Women’s Commission announced it would issue a notice to Sahu over the remarks. Chairperson Apsara termed the comments “highly condemnable” and questioned how such a statement could be made by the husband of a serving minister. She warned that such thinking promotes social evils such as trafficking, child marriage, and the exploitation of women.
