Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Uttar Pradesh minister Sanjay Nishad on Tuesday apologised for his controversial remarks defending Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the removal of hijab of a women at a public event in Patna row.
“I said it only to end the matter. I only touched the hijab, not anything else. In Purvanchal, such language is commonly used to conclude an issue,” Nishad said, adding that if his words had caused hurt, he was withdrawing them. “I take my words back and apologise,” he said.
The minister further argued that people were unnecessarily giving a religious colour to the issue. “In our region, people put garlands around others’ necks at public meetings and there is no controversy. During Holi, people sometimes touch each other here and there, yet it does not become an issue,” he said.
Nitish Kumar triggered a political controversy after a video surfaced showing him pulling down a woman’s hijab during an official function in Patna. Opposition parties condemned the incident, describing it as an act of public harassment by an elected chief minister.
The viral clip, involving the 74-year-old leader, is from a government event where Nitish Kumar was distributing appointment certificates to AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) doctors. According to news agency PTI, the chief minister is seen asking a newly recruited AYUSH doctor to remove her hijab and later pulling it down himself.
The remarks made by Uttar Pradesh minister Sanjay Nishad in defence of Kumar drew strong criticism from the Congress. Party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate slammed Nishad’s comments, saying, “These shameless words are being said with a laugh by UP government minister Sanjay Nishad. The manner and the sly laughter with which he is saying this shows his vile, absurd, and misogynistic mindset,” she said in a post on X.
