Muslim minister defends Nitish Kumar amid hijab controversy

Patna: A political controversy has erupted in Bihar after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was seen touching or adjusting the hijab of a Muslim woman doctor who had come to receive her appointment letter at a government function in Patna.

While opposition parties, including the Congress, have strongly criticised the Chief Minister and demanded an apology, Nitish Kumar has found an unexpected but firm defender within his own cabinet.

Mohammad Jama Khan, the only Muslim minister in the Nitish Kumar-led cabinet, has publicly come out in support of the Chief Minister, dismissing allegations of disrespect and terming the incident as being “misrepresented” and “politically motivated”.

Speaking to the media, Jama Khan said the viral video circulating on social media has been taken out of context. “Nitish Kumar is like a father figure. He treated the woman doctor as he would treat his own daughter. There is no need to see anything inappropriate or insulting in this,” the minister said.

According to Jama Khan, the Chief Minister’s gesture was one of affection and concern, not an act meant to hurt religious sentiments or humiliate the woman. “This was not an insult. It was an expression of fatherly affection. Unfortunately, people are deliberately twisting the incident to create controversy,” he added.

The minister further accused political opponents of lowering the standards of public discourse by making serious allegations without understanding the full context of the incident. “Today, politics has stooped to a very low level.

Leaders are making baseless accusations without even trying to understand what actually happened. The person being targeted is the Chief Minister of Bihar, who has worked for people of all castes, religions and communities,” Jama Khan said.

He also emphasised that Nitish Kumar’s conduct has always been protective and inclusive. “He never behaves like a ruler who instils fear. Instead, he makes people feel safe and at home. The woman at the centre of this controversy was treated like a daughter,” the minister reiterated.

Jama Khan concluded by saying that the issue was being blown out of proportion and urged people not to communalise an incident that, according to him, involved no intention to disrespect any community or religious practice.

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