The viral video of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar forcibly removing a Muslim doctor’s hijab at an official ceremony in Patna has provoked national outrage and calls for his resignation. Critics — including opposition parties, Muslim groups and human rights organisations — denounced the act as an assault on dignity and minority rights. The episode has revived debate over hijab bans and Islamophobia in India, while Kumar’s party insists minorities are protected under its government. Rights groups demand accountability and legal action.
Nationwide Outcry After Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Removes Muslim Doctor’s Hijab During Official Ceremony
Bihar state's Chief Minister Nitish Kumar [File: Adnan Abidi/Reuters]
A video that circulated widely on social media shows Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar forcibly removing the hijab of a Muslim woman as she received an appointment letter at a government ceremony in Patna, triggering widespread condemnation across India.
The footage, recorded on Monday, shows Kumar holding an official document and surrounded by other officials. He points to the woman’s head covering and, before she can respond, reaches out and pulls the hijab down, exposing her face. A minister nearby appears to try to intervene while several people on stage are seen laughing.
Immediate Reactions
The video was first shared by the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and prompted swift criticism from opposition parties, Muslim organisations and rights groups.
“A female doctor had come to collect her appointment letter, and Nitish Kumar pulled off her hijab… Nitish Kumar should immediately resign for this disgusting behaviour,” the Congress party wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Members of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) held protests in Mumbai demanding criminal charges, and human rights advocates described the act as an assault on dignity and religious freedom.
“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,” said Aakar Patel, India head of Amnesty International, in a statement to Al Jazeera.
Political And Social Context
Nitish Kumar, 74, has served multiple terms as Bihar’s chief minister and is a longtime ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Modi–Kumar alliance recently won the Bihar assembly election, with the BJP emerging as the single largest party in the state for the first time.
The incident has reignited a broader national debate over the hijab. BJP-aligned groups and some state governments have sought restrictions on wearing the hijab in certain settings — most prominently in Karnataka in 2022, when a classroom hijab ban touched off large protests and produced a split verdict in the Supreme Court. India is home to roughly 200 million Muslims, and nearly 18% of Bihar’s population of about 127 million people are Muslim.
Official Responses And Accountability Demands
Kumar has not publicly addressed the criticism. The Janata Dal-United (JD-U), his party, posted that the chief minister has long supported minorities and that “the minorities are safe and secure in the Nitish government,” without acknowledging the incident directly. Al Jazeera reached out to Kumar’s office and a JD-U spokesperson but received no reply.
Domestically, political opponents have called for Kumar’s resignation and for legal action. Internationally, Pakistan’s foreign minister described the episode as "shameful" and “extremely disturbing,” urging protection for minority rights and warning against rising Islamophobia.
Rights groups say the episode demands unequivocal condemnation and accountability to prevent normalising discriminatory behaviour by public officials. The woman involved and her family have not publicly detailed any immediate legal steps, and inquiries into the event were ongoing at the time of reporting.
Why it matters: The video raises questions about the conduct of senior public officials, the protection of religious freedoms, and the safety and dignity of women in public life. It has become a focal point in ongoing debates in India over secularism, minority rights and the policing of religious dress.
