Kashmir parties slam Bihar CM Nitish Kumar over removing veil of a female doctor

Many political parties in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, condemned Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for removing the veil of a Muslim doctor during an official function in Bihar.

Former J&K Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti said whether it was time for Mr. Kumar to resign. “As I personally know Nitish ji and admire him, I was shocked to see him lowering the naqaab (veil) of a young Muslim woman,” Ms. Mufti said.

He said whether this should be attributed to old age or the normalization of public humiliation of Muslims. “The fact that people around him are watching this horrific incident as a form of entertainment is even more disturbing. Nitish Sahab perhaps it is time for him to resign?” Ms. Mufti said.

Mufti Hanım’s daughter, İltija Mufti, also participated in the condemnation. “No one has the right to interfere with the dignity of a woman in public. Mr. Kumar’s action reflected a lack of respect for personal and religious preferences. Power does not give anyone the license to humiliate or ridicule others,” Ms. Mufti said.

Ruling National Conference (NC) leader and Minister Sakina Ittoo described Mr Kumar’s move of publicly removing the naqab (face veil) of a Muslim woman as “extremely disturbing and indefensible”.

“Such a public insult violates a woman’s dignity, faith and personal autonomy. No constitutional authority allows degrading women or targeting religious identity. This behavior is unacceptable and must be unequivocally condemned. We owe an unreserved apology,” Ms. Ittoo said.

Imran Ansari, general secretary of J&K People’s Conference and also president of All J&K Shia Association, wrote a letter to the Bihar Chief Minister regarding the incident.

Mr Ansari’s letter said: “This action was extremely hurtful, unacceptable and clearly violated India’s democratic and constitutional values. Such behavior is unbecoming of a person holding a high constitutional office and sends a disturbing message to minority communities across the country.”

Mr. Ansari said Islam gives dignity and strength to women and that “the hijab is a religious obligation based on faith, modesty and self-respect.” “The woman involved in this incident was a doctor, a symbol of education, service and empowerment, and subjecting her to public humiliation further increases the seriousness of the incident,” he added. He demanded an “unconditional public apology” from Mr Kumar.

Such an action “destroys the moral credibility of the office of the Prime Minister,” Awami Ittehad Party spokesperson Inam Un Nabi said. “Mr Kumar’s behavior was not only inappropriate, it was disgraceful, arrogant and shockingly shameless. He humiliated a young doctor and embarrassed his own chair,” Mr Nabi said.

Zaira Wasim, a former Bollywood actress from Kashmir, also took exception to Mr. Kumar’s action. “A woman’s dignity and modesty is not something to be toyed with. At least not on a public stage. As a Muslim woman, it was very infuriating to watch another woman’s veil being pulled so casually and that listless smile. Power does not allow transgressing boundaries. Mr. Kumar owes that woman an unconditional apology,” Ms. Wasim said.