Nitish Kumar acted as a guardian, he is correct: Union Minister Giriraj Singh on hijab controversy in Bihar

Giriraj Singh defended Nitish Kumar amid the hijab controversy.
Giriraj Singh has come in support of Nitish Kumar. (Source: hungamaexpress/CNBC TV18)

On 15th December (Monday), a controvery transpired after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pulled hijab of a Muslim woman during an official event. On 18th December (Thursday), Union Minister Giriraj Singh also expressed his opinion regarding the incident and defended the Bihar chief minsiter.

He stated, “Nitish Kumar has not done anything wrong. If someone is going to collect an appointment letter, should they not show their face? Is this some Islamic country? Nitish Kumar acted as a guardian. If you are going to get a passport, do you show your face or not? When you go to the airport, do you show it or not? People talk about Pakistan and Englishtan, but this is India and it will be governed by the rule of law. What Nitish Kumar did is correct.” Singh further conveyed, “Nitish Kumar did the right thing. Whether the girl refuses the job or goes to hell, that’s her choice.”

According to Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey, he was unaware that the doctor had declined the appointment because of the event. “I have no such information. Women have always been respected by our chief minister, who has made huge efforts for the empowerment of Matri Shakti,” Pandey mentioned hours before Singh’s remarks.

1,283 AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) doctors, including practitioners of Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, and Unani medicine, received appointment letters during the program. Letters were sent online with only ten being delivered in person.

The 10 doctors showed up at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Patna to pick up their appointment letters, including Nusrat Parveen. “What is this,” Kumar gestured to her veil before pulling it after she went to the stage upon her turn, triggering a row.

Written by Rukma Rathore
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