• Source:JND

The state’s Minority Welfare Minister, Mohd Zama Khan, has clarified that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is facing backlash after a video of him removing the hijab of a Muslim doctor at a public event went viral, and said that he loves and respects daughters and lifted the veil so that the world could see the face of a successful daughter.

Zama Khan said that the opposition and some leaders from the Muslim community are attempting to defame the Chief Minister. "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.

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He added that critics should recognise that Kumar has consistently shown the highest regard for the nation’s daughters. "Those in the opposition who are raising questions about his mental health are revealing their mindset," he said.

What Was The Incident And Where It Happened? 

The Chief Minister was attending an event to distribute appointment letters to over 1,200 AYUSH doctors. The appointees included 685 Ayurveda practitioners, 393 homeopaths and 205 doctors from the Unani system of medicine. While most received their appointment letters online, 10 candidates were handed the letters personally by the Chief Minister.

The video shows the Chief Minister speaking to the woman doctor and apparently asking her to remove her veil. Before she could respond, he pulled down her hijab, revealing her face. While some people in the background were seen laughing, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary appeared to step in and try to stop Kumar.

Oppositions Reaction On Nitish Kumar Viral Video 

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 the CM act shows the JDU-BJP coalition's attitude towards women's empowerment. "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.

"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," Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM said.

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"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," AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said. 


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