Mayawati Calls for Apology from Nitish Kumar Over Hijab Incident

Mayawati Urges Apology from Bihar CM

On Saturday, Mayawati, the leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), urged Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to apologize for an incident where he was accused of attempting to remove a Muslim woman's hijab during a public event earlier this week. The controversy erupted after a video surfaced on social media, allegedly showing Kumar trying to remove the hijab of a woman, prompting strong reactions from students, college officials, and political figures across the nation.

Concerns Raised Over the Incident

In a post on social media, Mayawati expressed her concern that instead of being resolved quickly, the issue has escalated into a significant controversy due to statements from ministers and others. She described the situation as unfortunate and regrettable. Referring to the event where appointment letters were distributed to doctors, she emphasized that the matter should have been handled with sensitivity, particularly considering its implications for women's safety and dignity.

Call for Sensitivity and Resolution

Mayawati stated that the incident during the public event, where a Muslim woman doctor was asked to remove her hijab, has transformed into a controversy rather than being resolved. She urged the Chief Minister to view the incident in its proper context, apologize, and take steps to resolve the growing dispute, noting that similar incidents have occurred elsewhere and require careful and respectful handling. She further remarked that, at first glance, this matter concerning women's safety and dignity should have been addressed by the Chief Minister's direct intervention, especially given the recurrence of such incidents in various locations.