Samajwadi Party leader Sumaiya Rana, who serves as the party’s national spokesperson, on Wednesday filed a formal FIR against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Sanjay Nishad in connection with the controversy surrounding the hijab incident. The complaint was lodged a day after a video went viral showing Nitish Kumar pulling down the hijab of a Muslim woman while handing out appointment letters to newly recruited AYUSH doctors.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Rana said the incident had set a deeply troubling and dangerous precedent. She argued that when a person holding such a high constitutional office behaves in this manner in public, it not only undermines the dignity of women but also emboldens others in positions of power to act similarly without fear of consequences.
Rana also strongly criticised Uttar Pradesh Fisheries Minister Sanjay Nishad for his remarks while defending Nitish Kumar. Nishad had triggered a separate controversy by making a crude statement in which he said that people were creating unnecessary outrage over the touching of a hijab and went on to ask what the reaction would have been if “somewhere else” had been touched. Rana said she filed a complaint specifically based on this remark and demanded strict legal action against Nishad for his insensitive and objectionable comment.
The incident itself took place at ‘Samvad’, the Bihar Chief Minister’s Secretariat, during a formal programme where appointment letters were distributed to more than 1,000 AYUSH doctors. When Nusrat Parveen, who had arrived with her face covered by a hijab, stepped forward to receive her appointment letter, Nitish Kumar was seen expressing displeasure and saying “what is this?” before pulling the hijab down. Visuals from the event showed Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who was standing next to Kumar, attempting to restrain him by tugging at his sleeve.
The episode sparked sharp political reactions across parties. The Rashtriya Janata Party mocked Kumar in a post from its official X account, questioning whether his mental condition had deteriorated or whether he had become “100% Sanghi.” The Congress also weighed in, demanding Nitish Kumar’s resignation over what it described as inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour from a chief minister.
The controversy has since widened into a larger debate on dignity, constitutional propriety, and accountability of public office holders.
