Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar remained at the centre of a controversy for the fourth day on Thursday (December 18, 2025), with a Union Minister defending his act of pulling down a Muslim woman’s veil, another seeking to defuse the row, even as outrage from across sections grew louder.
The incident, a video clip of which has been circulated widely and sparked a major political row, took place on Monday at the Chief Minister’s secretariat in Patna when Ayush doctors had gathered to receive their letters of appointment. When the woman came up for her letter, Mr. Kumar saw her 'naqab', said “what is this” and then removed the veil.
As opposition parties asked Mr. Kumar for an unconditional apology and others articulated their distress, Union Minister Giriraj Singh waded right into the row and said it is up to the woman to refuse the appointment or "go to hell".
Nitish was being fatherly when he pulled hijab off doctor's face: Bihar Minister
Mr. Kumar, Mr. Singh insisted, had done nothing wrong.
