Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar took to X to share his stance on the controversial act by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, which is being widely debated on social media. The CM recently, while honouring a young woman for her work, forcefully pulled down her hijab. The act left people divided, with some expressing anger over touching a woman without her consent, while others came in support of the CM.
Javed Akhtar condemns Nitish Kumar`s act
On Thursday, Javed Akhtar said that Kumar owes an apology to the woman. He wrote, “Every one who knows me even in the most cursory manner knows how much I am against the traditional concept of Parda but it doesn’t mean that by any stretch of imagination I can accept what Mr Nitish Kumar has done to a Muslim lady doctor. I condemn it in very strong words. Mr Nitish Kumar owes an unconditional apology to the lady.”
Every one who knows me even in the most cursory manner knows how much I am against the traditional concept of Parda but it doesn’t mean that by any stretch of imagination I can accept what Mr Nitish Kumar has done to a Muslim lady doctor . I condemn it in very strong words . Mr…
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) December 18, 2025
Former actress Zaira Wasim, known for Dangal, also reacted to the video. Penning a note, she wrote, “A woman’s dignity and modesty are not props to toy with. Least of all on a public stage.”
She further stated that the Bihar CM owes the woman doctor an “unconditional apology.” She stated, “As a Muslim woman, watching another woman’s niqab being pulled at so casually, accompanied by that nonchalant smile, was so infuriating. Power does not grant permission to violate boundaries. NitishKumar owes that woman an unconditional apology.”
For the unversed, Zaira quit the Hindi film industry in 2019, citing conflicts between her work and her faith. However, she has often spoken about issues related to dignity, religion, and personal choice.
About the viral controversy
The controversy arose during an official event where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar distributed appointment letters to 1,283 AYUSH doctors (Ayurvedic, Homeopathic, and Unani) at Samvad Hall in the Chief Minister`s Secretariat.
Following the event, Nitish Kumar posted on his official X account, saying, “Today, I participated in the appointment letter distribution ceremony for 1,283 AYUSH doctors at Samvad Hall. This step will provide opportunities to new talent in the healthcare sector and further strengthen traditional medicine systems. My heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all the newly appointed AYUSH doctors.”
As of now, there has been no official response from the Chief Minister or the Bihar government addressing the allegations raised by the Opposition.
