Patna: Barely a month after taking oath as Bihar chief minister for the 10th time, Nitish Kumar has once again landed in controversy following an incident at a government event in Patna that has triggered sharp reactions from the Opposition.
A video widely circulating on social media shows the 74-year-old JD(U) chief handing a certificate to a woman doctor at an AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) programme on Monday. During the exchange, Kumar gestures at the woman to remove her hijab. Before she can respond, he is seen reaching out and pulling down her hijab, exposing her mouth and chin.
As some people in the background are heard laughing, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary appears to step in and attempt to stop Kumar.
Opposition Reacts Sharply
The incident has drawn strong condemnation from Opposition parties, with the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) questioning not only Kumar’s conduct but also his mental fitness to continue as chief minister.
Calling the act “vile,” the Congress demanded Kumar’s immediate resignation.
The RJD went further, openly questioning whether the episode was evidence of a deterioration in Kumar’s mental health.
“What has happened to Nitish ji? His mental state has now reached a completely pitiable condition,” the party wrote in Hindi on X.
RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmad said the incident reflected the JD(U)-BJP alliance’s attitude towards women, particularly Muslim women.
“By removing the hijab from the face of a Muslim woman who observes purdah, he has made it clear what kind of politics the JDU and BJP are practising in the name of women’s empowerment,” Ahmad said.
“Snatching away a woman’s veil is effectively denying her the right to live according to her culture and religious freedom, which is guaranteed by the Indian Constitution.”
Congress Calls Act ‘Shameless’
The Congress described Kumar’s action as both “shameless” and “unforgivable.”
“A female doctor had come to collect her appointment letter, and Nitish Kumar pulled off her hijab. A man holding the highest constitutional office in Bihar is indulging in such a vile act. How safe will women be in the state?” the party said in a post on X.
“Nitish Kumar should immediately resign for this disgusting behaviour.”
Earlier Controversies Resurface
This is not the first time Kumar’s public conduct has raised eyebrows. Weeks before the Bihar Assembly elections in November, he faced criticism after a video showed him garlanding a woman at a public meeting, despite a JD(U) MP attempting to stop him. Kumar was seen rebuking the MP at the time.
Such incidents had earlier prompted Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor and other leaders to question Kumar’s mental fitness in the run-up to the elections, claiming he was no longer fit to govern.
Despite these attacks, the NDA swept the Bihar elections, winning over 200 of the state’s 243 seats, while the Opposition Mahagathbandhan was reduced to just 35 seats.
Prashant Kishor Stands by Remarks
Speaking to NDTV’s CEO and Editor-in-Chief Rahul Kanwal after the elections, Kishor reiterated his position and refused to retract his comments.
“It’s not about being old or young. If a chief minister does not appear mentally and physically fit, I will say so,” Kishor said.
“Whether it backfires or not, I am not taking my words back.”