New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticised the BJP response to the Bihar hijab controversy, drawing attention to unequal reactions toward Muslim women. He referred to the incident involving Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who pulled at a Muslim doctor’s veil during a public event, which triggered political debate and public outrage.
Omar Abdullah said public reaction would have been harsher if a Muslim man had lifted the veil of a Hindu woman in states such as Haryana or Rajasthan. He said the current response reflected bias since the woman involved was Muslim. He added expectations from the BJP remained low on such issues.
The controversy intensified after BJP minister Giriraj Singh defended Nitish Kumar. Singh questioned the practice of covering the face during official procedures and asked whether India was an Islamic nation. When asked about refusal to accept the job offer, Singh responded with a remark suggesting the woman could decline or go to hell. The comment drew sharp criticism.
NDA ally and Uttar Pradesh minister Sanjay Nishad also defended Nitish Kumar with remarks aired on a local channel. He questioned public outrage and made a crude reference, which drew widespread condemnation. Later, Nishad said his words were misunderstood due to regional language styles. He stated expressions differ across regions and denied intent to insult.
Opposition parties including the Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Aam Aadmi Party demanded an unconditional apology. Amnesty International condemned the act, calling it an assault on the woman’s dignity, autonomy, and identity. The rights group warned such actions normalize discrimination and weaken equality and freedom of religion. It urged accountability and protection for women from degrading treatment.
