Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah lashed out at his Bihar counterpart over the hijab row, and said the latter had no rights to "lay hands on a woman."
Reacting on the row to presspersons, Abdullah said, "Forget that she was a Muslim woman, that she was wearing a hijab; how can it ever be right to lay hands on any woman in this manner, to touch her clothes?"
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar pulled the veil of a woman while distributing appointment letters to Ayush practitioners. Even Deputy CM tried to stop him. He wouldn't have done this if he was in his sense. There are several such videos of him behaving awkwardly. pic.twitter.com/M3za0FkQFe
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) December 15, 2025
"And then to forcibly remove a Muslim woman's hijab like that... The woman doctor has said that she no longer wants to work, so Nitish Kumar should realise his mistake and apologise to the woman doctor," the National Conference leader urged.
Bihar CM Kumar is receiving flak for allegedly pulling a woman's veil while handing over appointment letters to newly appointed AYUSH doctors. The candidate, Nusrat Parveen, who was wearing a hijab, received hers from Kumar at the Chief Minister's Secretariat. While presenting the letter, Kumar, who was standing on a raised platform, exclaimed upon seeing Nusrat Parveen, "what is this?" and pulled the veil down, exposing her face.
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Kumar is facing accusations of disrespecting Muslim traditions, allegedly in line with 'RSS agenda'. Reportedly, hurt by the controversy, the candidate has declined the offer.
Meanwhile, in an attempt to defend Kumar, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said the chief minister has done nothing wrong and said, "Whether she refuses the job or goes to hell, that's her choice (Woh refuse kare ya jahannum mein jaye)."
