Indian politician and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is facing severe backlash after forcibly removing a Muslim female doctor’s niqab (veil) during a public ceremony in India.
The viral incident occurred at the Chief Minister’s Office, where the doctor had arrived to receive her appointment letter.
The act has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with people calling it a blatant violation of religious freedom, women’s rights, and human dignity. Footage and eyewitness accounts show Kumar physically pulling off the woman’s niqab, an act many have labeled humiliating, misogynistic, and emblematic of the growing intolerance faced by Muslims in India.
Political parties quickly reacted. The Indian National Congress demanded Kumar’s immediate resignation, describing the act as “shameless and unforgivable.” Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) spokesperson Ijaz Ahmed criticized the Chief Minister’s behavior, warning that such actions reflect a deep disregard for constitutional protections guaranteeing religious freedom.
Observers say the incident is not an isolated event but part of a broader pattern of discrimination and hostility toward Muslims in India. Rights groups have highlighted systemic prejudices in government policies, public institutions, and political rhetoric, where Muslim citizens frequently face humiliation, legal and social marginalization, and attacks on their cultural and religious identity.