Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ignited controversy after a video surfaced showing him pulling down the hijab of a woman during a government event in Patna. The incident has drawn swift condemnation from opposition parties, who characterize it as an act of public harassment by an elected official. The footage, which has gone viral on social media, captures the 74-year-old chief minister at a ceremony where he was distributing appointment certificates to AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) doctors.
The event took place at the Chief Minister’s secretariat, ‘Samvad’, where Kumar handed out letters to over 1,000 newly recruited AYUSH doctors. Among the appointees were 685 Ayurveda doctors, 393 homeopaths, and 205 practitioners of Unani medicine. The Chief Minister personally presented job letters to 10 appointees, while the remainder received their certificates online.
During the ceremony, when it was Nusrat Parveen’s turn-who was wearing a hijab across her face-Kumar was recorded frowning and exclaiming, “What is this?” Subsequently, he bent down and pulled her hijab down. Following this interaction, an official quickly ushered Parveen away, while Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary appeared to tug at Kumar’s sleeve, seemingly trying to restrain his actions.
Opposition parties like the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress have seized upon the incident, alleging it reflects not only Kumar’s attitude towards women but also raises concerns about his mental state. The Congress party described the act as “vile” and called for Kumar to resign, while the RJD suggested that it showcases his deteriorating mental health. “What has happened to Nitish ji? His mental state has now reached a completely pitiable condition,” the RJD commented on the social media platform X.
RJD Spokesperson Ejaz Ahmad further criticized Kumar’s actions, asserting that pulling down a woman’s hijab is tantamount to stripping away her right to adhere to her cultural and religious freedoms, rights guaranteed under the Indian Constitution. Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi joined the chorus of criticism, labeling the act “absolutely condemnable.” She emphasized on X that forcefully removing a woman’s veil reflects a troubling disregard for the dignity of women by the Chief Minister.
This incident raises pressing questions about the intersection of politics, cultural identity, and women’s rights in India. While Kumar has not publicly responded to the uproar surrounding the video, the ongoing fallout underscores the sensitivities related to the treatment of women in public life and the responsibility of public officials to uphold their dignity. As the story continues to develop, it remains to be seen how Kumar will address the criticisms and what impact this will have on his political standing in Bihar.
The unfolding situation not only highlights the need for respectful engagement in political discourse but also serves as a reminder of the broader societal issues surrounding women’s autonomy and cultural expression in India.
Original Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/vile-public-harassment-of-a-woman-opposition-slams-nitish-kumar-over-hijab-pulling-viral-video-11765850522730.html
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Publish Date: 2025-12-16 07:42:00
