Editor,
On December 18, hardly two weeks ago, Nitish Kumar, the sitting Chief Minister of Bihar pulled down the Hijab of a Muslim doctor. Kumar was distributing appointment letters to newly appointed AYUSH (alternative medicine) doctors, and while handing the appointment letter to a female Muslim doctor, Kumar insisted that she remove her veil (Hijab), to which she resisted, following which, he himself tugged at her Hijab.
Nitish Kumar’s act is punishable under numerous sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). For example, section 74, which makes the use of force to outrage the modesty of a woman, a punishable offence. The minimum punishment under this section is imprisonment for one year, which may extend to five years. Kumar could also be charged under section 76 of the BNS, which places a minimum 3 years (and a maximum 7 year) punishment on the use of force to disrobe a woman. In addition to misconduct with a woman, Kumar can also be charged under section 299 of the BNS which criminalises any act which outrages the religious feelings of any class of citizens in India.
News reports indicate that complaints have been filed and First Information Reports have been lodged across different states in India by different political parties. The question is; what is the fate of such complaints/FIRs? This question echoes even louder given the inaction of the Bihar police. All the three offences mentioned above are cognizable, and non-bailable offences. This means the Police enjoy complete autonomy to arrest the accused without a warrant from a court. Inaction of the Bihar Police in spite of such wide powers is appalling. The Zero-FIRs that have been registered in other states are sooner or later to be transferred to Bihar, for investigation, where, given Bihar’s own police’s reluctance to lodge an FIR, the independence of the investigation is questionable.
Article 361 of the Constitution places a prohibition on initiation of criminal proceedings against the President of India, and the Governor of any State. Pertinently, this protection does not extend to the Chief Minister. Additionally, section 8(3) of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951 says, any representative convicted of an offence and sentenced to two years or more of imprisonment shall be disqualified from contesting/holding such seat from the date of the sentencing till six years after the completion of his sentence. Thus, if convicted and sentenced the convicted and sentenced, Nitish Kumar could be disqualified from being a Member of Legislative Assembly, and thus would automatically lose his seat as Chief Minister.
Lastly, this is not the first time that Kumar has made news for improper conduct. In 2023, he made headlines when he made crude remarks on the relation between female literacy and sexual intercourse, which are not worthy of repetition here. When a sitting Chief Minister commits such an act, its repercussions are often more severe than that which meets the eye. It signals an ethos of impunity to all those who see it, and normalises such conduct. Ordinarily such conduct would not pass without punishment, however, when committed by a distinguished citizen, senior in both age, and political experience, and dealt with dismissively it becomes a dangerous trend for people watching such obnoxious behaviour.
Yours etc.,
Vedant Chaudhury,
Via email
Save Wah Myntdu – No Idol Immersion Please!
Editor,
With profound respect for both ecological justice and cultural integrity, concerned citizens of the Jaintia Hills appeal for urgent administrative intervention to ban the immersion of Puja idols in the river Wah Myntdu.
Wah Myntdu is not merely a river. It is the beating heart of our land – a lifeline that nourishes paddy fields, replenishes drinking water sources, and sustains fragile ecosystems across West Jaintia Hills. For generations, it has flowed as a symbol of purity, resilience, and life itself.
Yet today, this sacred river faces a growing threat. Despite community-led efforts such as the petition filed by Pynkhooid Wah Myntdu before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), idol immersions continue unchecked. These acts introduce toxic heavy metals like lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, and synthetic dyes into the water. While visible debris may be cleared post-immersion, these chemical pollutants remain dissolved, poisoning aquatic life and seeping into soil and crops irrigated by the river.
Let us be clear. Wah Myntdu is not Wah Umkhrah. One still runs clean, vital, and revered. The other, regrettably, has become an overburdened urban drain. We must not allow our pride to become another casualty of neglect.
As per the Revised CPCB Guidelines (May 12, 2020) and Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, immersion in natural water bodies is prohibited unless strict environmental safeguards are followed. The law mandates the use of designated artificial tanks to prevent irreversible damage to rivers like ours.
We therefore urge the District Administration to immediately ban all forms of idol immersion in Wah Myntdu, direct Puja Committees to construct or utilise designated artificial immersion ponds under the supervision of the Pollution Control Board, and ensure strict enforcement of NGT and CPCB guidelines through regular monitoring and accountability to safeguard the river’s ecological and cultural integrity.
This is not a challenge to faith, but a call for responsible reverence: a balance between tradition and sustainability that our ancestors understood deeply. Our culture teaches us to honour nature as divine. Let our actions reflect that truth.
The media, administration, and public must act now before the damage becomes irreversible. To protect Wah Myntdu is to protect the very soul of the Jaintia people.
Yours etc.,
Mantre Hame Dkhar,
Via email
Awareness about Leptospirosis can save lives
Editor,
The news item, published on January 5, in The Shillong Times, reporting the detection of Leptospirosis in Meghalaya for the first time, calls for timely awareness and early diagnosis. The report, also carried in the Indian Journal of Medical Research, deserves serious attention from both the authorities and the general public.
For many years, Meghalaya was considered a low-risk state for this disease. Because of this belief, cases of fever may not always have been examined with due care. As stated Leptospirosis often begins like a common fever, but delayed diagnosis can lead to severe and even life-threatening complications. The fact that young and working people were affected, and that some required intensive care, is deeply concerning.
There is an urgent need for simple and clear public awareness. People should be informed about basic do’s and don’ts—such as avoiding stagnant water during the rainy season, wearing footwear while working outdoors, keeping surroundings clean, and seeking medical help early when fever is accompanied by body pain, vomiting, or yellowing of the eyes.
It is equally important to strengthen early diagnostic facilities within Meghalaya. At present, the absence of local confirmatory testing leads to delays. This is unfortunate, as Leptospirosis is easily treatable if detected early. Better diagnostic facilities will help doctors act in time and prevent avoidable suffering.
I am confident that this report will lead to greater awareness, better diagnostic facilities, and a more alert public health response in our state. Timely action today can prevent a silent health risk from turning into a larger public problem tomorrow.
Yours etc.,
Jairaj
Via email
