A senior Indian politician has ignited a fierce national controversy after he was filmed pulling a Muslim woman's hijab from her head during an official ceremony at his residence.
Incident at Appointment Ceremony Triggers Fury
The incident occurred on Wednesday 17 December 2025 during a ceremony at the residence of Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of the eastern state of Bihar. The event was held to distribute appointment letters to newly recruited practitioners of state-licensed traditional medicine.
Video footage from the event shows Mr Kumar seated on stage with Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Health Minister Mangal Pandey. As the newly appointed doctors came forward individually, Nusrat Parveen approached with her face covered by her hijab. Mr Kumar is heard asking, "What is this?" before leaning forward and pulling the garment down.
The woman appeared visibly shocked. An official quickly guided her away, while Mr Choudhary was seen tugging at the Chief Minister's sleeve in an apparent attempt to stop him.
Widespread Condemnation from Rights Groups and Opposition
The footage prompted immediate and sharp criticism from human rights organisations and political opponents. Amnesty International India issued a strong statement condemning the act.
"This act was an assault on this woman's dignity, autonomy, and identity," said Aakar Patel, head of Amnesty International India. "When a public official forcibly pulls down a woman's hijab, it sends a message to the general public that this behaviour is acceptable. No one has the right to police a woman's faith or clothing."
Patel added that such actions "deepen fear, normalise discrimination, and erode the very foundations of equality and freedom of religion," demanding unequivocal condemnation and accountability.
Opposition parties in Bihar and nationally launched fierce attacks. The main opposition party in the state, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), shared the video on social media platform X, questioning the Chief Minister's mental state and suggesting he had aligned with far-right Hindu nationalist ideology.
The Congress party, the principal national opposition, described Mr Kumar's behaviour as "vile" and "shameless," calling for his immediate resignation. "Think about it – how safe will women be in the state?" the party asked in a statement.
Fallout and Calls for Accountability
Opposition MP Manoj Jha described the visuals as "deeply troubling" and "unsettling," noting the deputy chief minister's attempt to intervene. There were also unverified reports that Ms Parveen was reconsidering accepting her government position following the incident.
The controversy places significant pressure on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, with critics arguing his actions violated fundamental rights and set a dangerous precedent for the treatment of religious minorities and women in public life. The Chief Minister's Office has been contacted for comment.
