A formal complaint has been registered against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar following a controversial incident in which he was seen pulling down the hijab of a Muslim woman during an official government function, triggering political backlash and public outrage.
The complaint was filed on Thursday in Lucknow by Sumaiya Rana, a leader of India’s Samajwadi Party. It relates to a widely circulated video showing the chief minister interacting with Nusrat Parveen, a newly appointed doctor, at a ceremony held at the Bihar chief minister’s secretariat where appointment letters were being distributed.
Footage from the event shows Kumar reaching toward Parveen’s face and adjusting her hijab without her consent. The video quickly went viral on social media, drawing sharp criticism from opposition leaders, civil society members, and journalists, who described the act as inappropriate and disrespectful.
According to Indian media reports, Rana’s complaint names both Nitish Kumar and Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Sanjay Nishad. Rana argued that the chief minister’s conduct sends a troubling message, stating that such behaviour could embolden others to commit similar acts against women, particularly those from minority communities.
Rana also criticised Nishad for publicly downplaying the incident, in which he claimed that the chief minister had merely touched the woman’s face. She said such remarks trivialised the seriousness of the act and ignored the broader implications for women’s dignity and religious expression.
Advocate Misham Zaidi, who accompanied Rana to the police station, said the incident and subsequent political statements had the potential to inflame religious sentiments. Zaidi called for legal action under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code, which addresses assault or criminal force against a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty.
The controversy has emerged against the backdrop of growing concern over the treatment of religious minorities in India. Rights groups and international observers have repeatedly warned of an increase in hate-related incidents targeting Muslims and other minority communities during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Last month, a report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended that India be designated a country of “special concern,” citing systemic discrimination and serious violations of religious freedom. The report highlighted policies and political rhetoric linked to the Hindu nationalist ideology promoted by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological parent organisation, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
The report further noted that these developments have contributed to an environment of fear and marginalisation for minorities, raising concerns about religious freedom in India and the protection of fundamental rights.
As of now, there has been no official response from the Bihar chief minister’s office regarding the complaint. The incident, however, continues to fuel debate over political accountability, women’s dignity, and minority rights in India.
