- Nitish Kumar removed a Muslim doctor's hijab at a public event in Bihar
- Minority Welfare Minister defended Kumar, saying he showed respect to daughters
- Opposition condemned the act, demanding Kumar's resignation over hijab incident
Amid the massive row over the viral video of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar removing the hijab of a Muslim doctor at a public event, the state's Minority Welfare Minister has said the Chief Minister loves and respects daughters and removed the veil so that the world could see the face of a successful daughter.
Zama Khan, Nitish Kumar's party colleague and the 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.
Khan said those criticising Kumar must know that he has given the country's daughters the utmost respect. "Those in the opposition who are raising questions about his mental health are revealing their mindset," he said.
The 74-year-old Chief Minister was attending an event to distribute appointment letters to over 1,200 AYUSH doctors. A woman doctor who approached the Chief Minister had a hijab on. The Chief Minister is seen speaking to the doctor, apparently asking her to remove the veil. Before she could react, the Chief Minister pulled down the hijab, exposing her face. While some in the background were seen laughing, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary was seen trying to stop Kumar.
The Congress termed Kumar's act "vile" and said he should resign as the Chief Minister. "Look at his shamelessness. The person in the highest post in Bihar is committing such a lowly act. Just imagine how safe women are in the state. Nitish Kumar should resign immediately. This act does not deserve forgiveness," the Congress said.
RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmad said Kumar pulling down the hijab shows the JDU-BJP coalition's attitude towards women. "By removing the hijab from the face of a Muslim woman who observes purdah, he (Kumar) has made it clear what kind of politics the JDU and BJP are engaging in in the name of women's empowerment... Removing a woman's veil is, in a way, an act of snatching away the right to live according to one's culture and religious freedom, which is guaranteed to all by the Indian Constitution and its constitutional system," said Ahmad.
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. "Is the self-respect of women being traded after depositing Rs 10,000 in their accounts every month? AIMIM stands firmly to respect women and protect hijab," it 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."
