UP minister faces backlash over remarks on Nitish Kumar's hijab incident: 'What if he touched somewhere else?'

Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Sanjay Nishad on Tuesday triggered a fresh controversy with his insensitive remarks on Nitish Kumar’s recent act of pulling down the hijab of a Muslim woman.

Nishad, whose NISHAD Party is part of the BJP-led NDA in UP, wondered what would have happened had the Bihar chief minister’s “hands touched somewhere else”.

In an interview to a news outlet, Nishad said: “He is also a man ... why is there so much controversy over removing a naqab? His hands only touched her face. If his hands had touched somewhere else, what would have happened then?”

The remarks even took the journalist by surprise, who asked for clarification from the minister. He repeated: “There’s so much issue over the naqab. What if he had touched somewhere else on the face, or his hands had brushed something else, what then?”

Nishad later issued a clarification on his statement, saying that it was not meant to insult any woman or community. "The statement over which a controversy is being created today was said by me, smiling, casually, and in my local Bhojpuri dialect. There was no ill intention towards any community, any woman, or any religion, nor was there any intent to insult," he told PTI.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar pulled the veil of a woman while distributing appointment letters to Ayush practitioners. Even Deputy CM tried to stop him. He wouldn't have done this if he was in his sense. There are several such videos of him behaving awkwardly. pic.twitter.com/M3za0FkQFe

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) December 15, 2025

However, his statement added fuel to the raging controversy, with Samajwadi Party leader Sumaiya Rana filing a complaint against Nishad.

Advocate Misham Zaidi said the incident and the subsequent remarks attract serious penal provisions. "He has hurt the modesty of a woman. What Sanjay Nishad has done incites religious sentiments. This is a clear-cut case under Section 153A, as you are knowingly engaging in such acts that could instigate riots, create unrest, and disturb the law and order of the state," he said.

The Bihar chief minister is facing heat over his recent act of pulling down the veil off a Muslim AYUSH doctor's face during a government event.

Congress leaders said the incident reflected “insensitivity towards Muslim women” while RJD leaders demanded a public apology, arguing that “no public authority has the right to touch a woman’s clothing.” Several Muslim groups also lashed out at the JD(U) chief over the incident.