Widespread outrage has erupted across India after a video showed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pulling down the hijab of a Muslim woman during an official government ceremony in the state capital, Patna.
The incident occurred on Monday as Kumar, a key ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was handing appointment letters to newly selected candidates. In the video, which quickly went viral on social media, Kumar is seen pointing at the woman’s attire and asking her to remove it. Before she could respond, he reached out and pulled down her hijab, exposing her face. A minister standing nearby appeared to make a brief attempt to intervene, while others on the stage laughed.
The woman was reportedly being appointed as a doctor of alternative medicine. The footage was first shared on X by the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which sharply criticised Kumar’s conduct and questioned his judgment.
Nitish Kumar, 74, has served as Bihar’s chief minister for much of the past two decades. His alliance with the BJP recently secured victory in the state’s legislative assembly elections, with the BJP emerging as the largest party for the first time.
The incident has reignited debate over the treatment of Muslim women and the politicisation of the hijab in India. The BJP and its allies have long opposed the wearing of hijab in public institutions. In 2022, a BJP-led government in Karnataka banned hijab in classrooms, triggering widespread protests and a prolonged legal and political controversy.
Opposition parties and Muslim organisations have condemned Kumar’s action and demanded his resignation. The Congress party called the incident “disgusting behaviour,” questioning how safe women could feel under such leadership. Members of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) staged protests in Mumbai, calling for criminal charges against the chief minister.
Public figures also weighed in. Former actor Zaira Wasim demanded an unconditional apology, saying a woman’s dignity and modesty should never be violated. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar described the incident as “shameful” and “extremely disturbing,” urging respect for minority rights and religious freedom.
Kumar has not personally responded to the criticism. His party, Janata Dal–United (JD-U), said in a post on X that he has always supported minorities and that they remain “safe and secure” under his government, without directly addressing the incident.
Amnesty International India described Kumar’s action as an assault on the woman’s dignity, autonomy, and identity, warning that such behaviour by public officials normalises discrimination and undermines equality and freedom of religion.
