Who gave India’s Bihar CM Nitish Kumar right to disrespect Muslim woman’s dignity?
A MALICIOUS AND DEPLORABLE ACT: BIHAR CM’s SHAMEFUL ACT
Nitish Kumar’s actions represent the worst kind of disrespect towards the Muslim community and an unacceptable violation of their sacred practices.
By Aneel Ahmed Usmani
In a shameful and deeply concerning act that has sent shockwaves across India and beyond, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar blatantly violated the dignity and personal boundaries of a Muslim woman during a public event.
This appalling act, in which Kumar forcibly pulled down Dr. Nusrat Parveen’s hijab (veil), exposes the inherent disrespect for Muslim women’s rights and religious symbols, underlining a troubling pattern of patriarchal disregard for consent and modesty.
During a certificate distribution ceremony in Patna on December 16, 2025, Nitish Kumar, a supposed leader of the people, callously approached Dr. Parveen, an AYUSH doctor, and physically removed her hijab in front of an audience. The act was done without any consideration for her comfort, personal boundaries, or religious values. It was an unprovoked violation of her modesty, and the fact that it took place in a public setting makes it all the more egregious.
To make matters worse, the incident was recorded and went viral on social media, further humiliating the doctor and highlighting the audacity of a political leader abusing his power in such a manner.
This incident is not just an isolated mistake; it is a reflection of a broader culture of casual patriarchy and religious insensitivity in Indian politics. Nitish Kumar’s actions were not a “fatherly gesture” as some of his supporters claim, but an act of disrespect and dominance that should not be tolerated by any democratic society.
His attempt to pull down Dr. Parveen’s hijab — a symbol of modesty, faith, and identity — is an outright violation of the fundamental rights of Muslim women to practice their religion without fear of humiliation or coercion.
Zaira Wasim, the former Bollywood actress who left the industry in 2019 citing conflicts with her faith, rightly condemned Kumar’s actions, stating that a woman’s dignity and modesty should never be treated as a joke or political tool. Her words resonate deeply with the experiences of millions of Muslim women around the world, including Pakistan, who navigate the complexities of public life while holding steadfast to their religious beliefs.
This incident comes at a time when India is already witnessing a growing climate of intolerance and religious discrimination. The hijab controversy in Karnataka, which saw Muslim girls barred from attending school due to their headscarves, is a chilling reminder of how state institutions in India are increasingly being used to undermine Muslim women’s rights and religious freedoms.
Bihar, a state with a significant Muslim population, should be a beacon of respect for diversity, but instead, under Kumar’s leadership, it has become a symbol of religious insensitivity.
As a patriotic Pakistani, I stand in strong solidarity with Dr. Nusrat Parveen and all Muslim women who face such humiliations. This vile act by Nitish Kumar has shaken us to our core, as it is an affront to the values of dignity, respect, and religious freedom that we hold dear. We demand an immediate and unconditional apology from Nitish Kumar to Dr. Parveen and the Muslim community at large for his malicious actions.
