Iltija Mufti files complaint seeking FIR against Bihar CM for pulling Muslim doctor’s veil
Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti has filed a formal complaint seeking the registration of an FIR against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for pulled aside the face veil of a Muslim woman doctor during a government function.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in her complaint, Iltija Mufti described the act as a serious violation of personal dignity, bodily autonomy and religious freedom, arguing that the incident amounts to an offence under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Constitution. She said the act, carried out at a public event, was not only humiliating for the woman concerned but also sent a “deeply disturbing message” about respect for women and minorities in positions of power.
The complaint states that the doctor, identified as an AYUSH practitioner receiving an appointment letter in Bihar’s capital Patna, appeared visibly taken aback during the incident, while the chief minister proceeded without consent. Iltija Mufti asserted that such behaviour by a constitutional authority cannot be normalised or dismissed as inadvertent, particularly when it involves interference with personal attire rooted in faith and choice
Expressing concern over the lack of concrete action, the complainant said no deterrent steps had been taken so far and that leaders of the BJP and other men in positions of power were justifying or condoning the act. She called this an abuse of authority and urged law-enforcement agencies to act without prejudice and uphold the rule of law. She stressed that accountability must apply equally to all individuals, irrespective of their political position.
The incident, which was captured on video and widely circulated on social media, has sparked widespread outrage, drawing condemnation from opposition parties and civil society groups and Muslim organizations in India. While several leaders have criticised Nitish Kumar’s conduct, neither the Bihar Chief Minister nor his party has issued an official response so far. Kumar has been Bihar’s chief minister for most of the past two decades. He is a close ally of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP.
