Patna: India’s veteran writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar has strongly criticised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, calling for an immediate apology after Kumar was accused of removing the hijab of a Muslim woman doctor during a public interaction.
The incident has triggered a wider political and social debate, with Akhtar condemning the chief minister’s conduct while senior leaders from the ruling alliance have come out in his defence.
Posting on the social media platform X, Akhtar said that although he personally opposed the practice of veiling, this did not justify what he described as an unacceptable act. “Anyone who knows me is aware of my opposition to the purdah system,” he wrote. “But that does not mean I can accept what Nitish Kumar did to a Muslim woman doctor. I strongly condemn it. He must offer her an unconditional apology.”
Every one who knows me even in the most cursory manner knows how much I am against the traditional concept of Parda but it doesn’t mean that by any stretch of imagination I can accept what Mr Nitish Kumar has done to a Muslim lady doctor . I condemn it in very strong words . Mr…
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) December 18, 2025
The controversy has drawn responses from senior political figures. The Union minister Giriraj Singh defended Kumar, arguing that there was nothing inappropriate in asking someone to reveal their face in an official setting. Singh said the chief minister had acted in a guardian-like role, adding that India was governed by law and not religious rules.
Former Bihar chief minister and Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi also supported Kumar, suggesting the incident may have occurred inadvertently. He said the chief minister’s intentions were not malicious and urged that the matter should not be viewed through a religious lens.
The episode has gained wide attention on social media and in political circles, highlighting ongoing tensions in India over personal freedoms, religious identity and the conduct expected of public officials.
