'Power does not grant permission to violate boundaries': Zaira Wasim slams Nitish Kumar for pulling down woman's hijab

In a video that went viral on social media, the Chief Minister is seen handing over an appointment certificate to an AYUSH doctor whose head and face were covered.

While presenting the certificate, Nitish Kumar first asked the woman to remove her hijab and, before she could respond, pulled it down himself, the footage shows.

Reacting strongly, Wasim said the incident left her infuriated and demanded an apology from the Chief Minister.

“A woman’s dignity and modesty are not props to toy with. Least of all on a public stage,” Wasim wrote on X.

“As a Muslim woman, watching another woman’s niqab being pulled so casually was deeply disturbing. Power does not grant permission to violate boundaries. Nitish Kumar owes that woman an unconditional apology.”

The incident has also drawn sharp reactions from opposition parties in Bihar.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) questioned the Chief Minister’s conduct, with party leaders posting critical remarks on X, while the Congress termed the episode “shameful” and demanded accountability.

The controversy has added to growing political pressure on Nitish Kumar amid mounting criticism over his public conduct.