New Delhi/Patna, Dec 18: The controversy over Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pulling off a Muslim woman’s veil at his secretariat in Patna has intensified, drawing widespread condemnation and political backlash.
The incident occurred on Monday when Ayush doctors were receiving appointment letters. Upon seeing the woman wearing a “naqab,” Kumar reportedly asked “what is this” and removed her veil. Opposition parties immediately demanded an unconditional apology, citing disrespect toward Muslim traditions and women’s rights.
Union minister Giriraj Singh defended Kumar, stating the woman could either refuse the appointment or “go to hell,” claiming Kumar acted appropriately as a guardian and underscoring the importance of showing one’s face for official procedures.
Singh framed the act as consistent with Indian law and contrasted it with practices in Islamic countries, drawing criticism for misogynistic and insensitive remarks. Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey attempted to calm tensions, highlighting Kumar’s record of empowering women.
The episode has sparked outrage from multiple quarters. Political leaders including Congress MP Tariq Anwar, NCP MP Fauzia Khan, and PDP leader Iltija Mufti criticized the actions of Kumar and Singh, calling them disrespectful, regressive, and harmful to women’s dignity.
Anwar described their mindset as “cheap,” Khan emphasized a woman’s personal choice over covering herself, and Mufti warned that Muslim women would defend their rights. Congress MP Imran Masood labeled Singh’s comments as evidence of mental instability. Veteran writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar also condemned the act, calling for an unconditional apology from Kumar and rejecting claims of selective outrage.
International organizations have also weighed in. Amnesty International called the incident an “assault on the woman’s dignity, autonomy, and identity,” warning that such behavior by public officials normalizes discrimination, instills fear, and erodes equality and religious freedom.
The organization urged accountability and preventive measures to ensure no woman faces similar degrading treatment in the future.
The incident has sparked a heated debate on secularism, women’s rights, and minority protections in India. It has provoked condemnation not only domestically but also from international observers, including countries in West Asia, highlighting the broader implications of the act on India’s image and its commitment to protecting individual freedoms.
Amid growing outrage, political analysts note that the lack of a formal apology from Kumar or Singh has fueled criticism and intensified calls for accountability. The controversy remains unresolved, reflecting deep divisions on issues of religious and gender rights in the country. (PTI)
