JD(U) leader on Nitish Kumar pulling down doctor's hijab: 'CM's action misinterpreted'

A video showed Nitish Kumar pulling down the hijab of a Muslim woman doctor at a public event.

After a video showing Nitish Kumar pulling down the hijab of a Muslim woman doctor at a public event triggered widespread outrage, senior JD(U) leader Zama Khan said the Bihar Chief Minister’s action was “misinterpreted”.

Khan, who is also Bihar Minority Welfare Minister, said the opposition and leaders from the Muslim community are trying to defame Nitish Kumar. "Nitish ji just showed love to a Muslim daughter. He wanted society to see the face of the girl after she became successful in life," he said.

According to Khan, the CM respects women and children and has acted out of affection.

The incident took place at a programme held at the Chief Minister’s residence, where appointment letters were being distributed to newly recruited AYUSH doctors. Nusrat Parveen, one of the appointees, stepped forward to receive her appointment letter.

After handing over the document, the CM gestured towards the doctor’s headscarf, asked her about it, and then instructed her to remove it. Seconds later, he was seen pulling it down himself.

Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM said Nitish Kumar's act is intolerable. "If there is any morality and shame left in the Chief Minister, he should apologise immediately. When the Chief Minister acts like this, who will guarantee the respect and security of women?" AIMIM said.

AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar has condemned Kumar and said "equality means consent". "If a man in power can remove a woman's veil today, who decides tomorrow that my covered arms offend him? Control never stops at one piece of cloth. Equality means consent. Always," she told NDTV.