Samajwadi Party leader and spokesperson Soumya Rana files a complaint against Nitish Kumar and Sanjay Nishad at the Kaiserganj police station in Lucknow
NEW DELHI — Uttar Pradesh Cabinet minister Sanjay Nishad on Tuesday earned the wrath of Congress and Samajwadi Party over his remarks on a viral video involving Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Reacting to Monday’s video in which Nitish Kumar is seen pulling off the hijab of a Muslim woman doctor during an appointment letter distribution event at the chief minister’s official residence in Patna, Nishad said, “If just the veil has been removed and there is so much uproar, what would have happened if he had touched somewhere else.” The minister made the comment in a jest, which further fuelled anger.
Criticising his remarks, Congress leader Supriya Shirante said: “These shameless words are being said with a laugh by UP government minister Sanjay Nishad. The way he says this shows his vile, absurd and misogynistic mindset.”
In the Patna incident, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is seen trying to remove the lady doctor’s hijab, an act that was captured on camera and went viral on social media.
Sumaiya Rana files complaint against Nitish Kumar nd Sanjay Nishad at the Kaiserganj police station.
Following Nishad’s comments, Samajwadi Party leader and spokesperson Soumya Rana filed a complaint against both Nitish Kumar and Sanjay Nishad at the Kaiserganj police station in the Uttar Pradesh capital, media reports said on Tuesday.
Soumya Rana, the daughter of prominent poet Munawwar Rana, strongly condemned the act and the subsequent remarks.
Speaking to the media, Soumya Rana said, “After watching Nitish Kumar’s video, it disturbed me deeply. A woman who comes wearing a veil clearly chooses to do so. He pulled her hijab and then laughed. This reflects a bankrupt mentality and hurts an entire community.”
She added that India is a country where women are respected and worshipped, and such behaviour from those holding high constitutional positions is unacceptable. “There cannot be anything more shameful than this. That is why we have submitted a complaint and demanded that a case be registered,” she said.
