Nitish’s act sets off hijab row in J&K; Omar, PDP trade fire

SRINAGAR: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s act of removing the face veil of a Muslim woman during a public function has set off a war of words far away in J&K, where CM Omar Abdullah has accused former CM Mehbooba Mufti of committing similar “unsecular act” by removing the burqa of a legitimate voter years ago.

“Have you forgotten the way Mehbooba Mufti removed the burqa of a legitimate voter inside a polling station years ago. The Bihar CM’s act is a continuation of that. We have seen it before. That incident was regretful, and this too is regretful,” Omar told reporters on the sidelines of a tourism conference here.




“Earlier, Nitish Kumar was considered a secular leader, but he is now slowly showing his true colours,” the CM said.

The PDP was quick to react to Omar’s comment on Mehbooba. Spokesperson Mohit Bhan said, “Nitish Kumar humiliates a Muslim woman in public and Omar responds by attacking Mehbooba Mufti. This is his complicity.”

PDP’s Iltija Mufti described Omar’s comments as “shameful.” “How shameful stepping in to defend a man who pulls a Muslim woman’s niqaab in full public view. Complicit and covert allies working in tandem. India’s only Muslim majority state’s CM openly advocating for Indian Muslims to be second class citizens,” Iltija said.