'If he touched elsewhere?' Minister defends Nitish Kumar's hijab act
What's the story
Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Nishad has landed in hot water for his controversial remarks on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's hijab incident. The controversy erupted after a video showed Kumar pulling down a woman doctor's hijab while handing over appointment letters to AYUSH doctors at an event in Patna. Defending Kumar, Nishad said the CM was only verifying if the appointment letter was given to the right person.
Comments
What minister said
He wondered how the incident would have been perceived interpreted if Kumar had "touched" her someplace else. "Arey, woh bhi toh aadmi hain na, peeche nahi padna chahiye. Naqab chhoo diya toh itna ho gaya...kahin aur chhoo dete toh kya ho jaata (He's also a human being after all. One should not hound him like this. Just by touching the 'hijab' caused such an uproar, what would have happened if he had touched something else)," he told Bharat Samachar.
Backlash
Nishad's remarks draw criticism
Nishad's comments were met with severe backlash, with Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate calling them "shameless" and indicative of a "vile, absurd, and misogynistic mindset." The minister later clarified his statement, saying it was made in jest and without any ill intention. "The statement over which a controversy is being created today was said by me, smiling, casually, and in my local Bhojpuri dialect. There was no ill intention towards any community, any woman, or any religion," he told PTI.
Legal proceedings
Legal action sought against Kumar and Nishad
Meanwhile, a complaint has been filed against Kumar and Nishad at Kaiserbagh Police Station in Lucknow. The complaint was filed by Samajwadi Party leader Sumaiya Rana, who demanded an FIR and strict legal action. Advocate Misham Zaidi, who represented Rana, argued that the incident hurt a woman's modesty and could incite religious sentiments leading to unrest.