Nitish Kumar hijab row: BJP cites Ashok Gehlot veil video, slams Congress for ‘selective outrage’

The BJP shared the dated clip, recorded when Gehlot was Rajasthan CM, to accuse the Congress of double standards. (File photo)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Tuesday, further escalated the political sparring over a viral video involving Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar by circulating an old clip of former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, framing it as a rebuttal to Opposition criticism and alleging double standards by the Congress.

The BJP shared the dated clip, recorded when Gehlot was Rajasthan CM, to accuse the Congress of double standards.

In the video, the Congress leader is seen lifting a woman’s veil while commenting that the ghoonghat tradition was outdated. BJP leaders argued that similar outrage was missing at the time, even as the party now strongly criticises Kumar.

इस घटिया हरकत के समय आप कहाँ थी मोहतरमा?? कहाँ है अशोक गहलोत जी पर आपका और राहुल बाबा का एक आक्रोश भरा ट्वीट?? ज़ुबान पर तब दही जम गई और उँगलियों पर ताले लग गए थे क्या आपके high command ने इसके लिए पूरे हिंदू समाज से माफ़ी माँगी थी ?? “Rights” क्या हिंदू महिलाओं की नहीं हैं ? https://t.co/4NoQki9EM5pic.twitter.com/duVkT0Bz6h

— Radhika Khera (@Radhika_Khera) December 16, 2025

Responding to Congress leader Supriya Shrinate’s remarks on the incident, BJP spokesperson Radhika Khera accused the Congress of selective criticism. She questioned why the party had remained silent during the Gehlot episode and shared the old clip to underline her point.

The Congress, however, maintained a hard line against Kumar.

In a post on X, the party described the incident as “shameless” and demanded his resignation, alleging inappropriate behaviour by someone occupying the state’s highest constitutional office.

The criticism spread beyond the Congress, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also condemning the incident. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Kumar’s former ally, launched a sharp attack, questioning the chief minister’s state of mind and calling the incident deeply troubling.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office, appointment letters were issued to 1,283 AYUSH doctors, including 685 Ayurveda doctors, 393 homeopaths and 205 Unani practitioners. While 10 candidates received their letters directly from the chief minister, the rest were appointed online.

According to officials, when a doctor identified as Nusrat Parveen approached the dais with her face covered, Kumar questioned the covering and pulled down her hijab. She was immediately escorted away by officials, while Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary appeared to intervene.