Nitish Kumar Declines 'Topi' at Madrasa Event, Sparks Row Amid Election Heat
CM refuses cap once symbolic of unity here’s why it matters now
A video of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar refusing to wear a traditional Muslim cap (topi) at a madrasa event has gone viral, reigniting debates over symbolism, secularism, and shifting political allegiances just months before the Bihar Assembly elections.
The incident occurred during the centenary celebrations of the Bihar State Madrasa Education Board, where Kumar, now in alliance with the BJP, was offered the cap — a gesture often seen as a mark of respect in religious events. Instead of wearing it himself, the JDU chief handed the cap to Minority Welfare Minister Mohammad Zama Khan, placing it on his head.
The move instantly drew attention, not only because of its political undertones but also due to Kumar's own past statements. Back in 2013, when he had broken ties with the BJP over its selection of Narendra Modi as PM candidate, Kumar had said that a true national leader must embrace both the "tilak" and the "topi", suggesting secular inclusivity. At the time, it was seen as a direct jibe at Modi for refusing to wear a skullcap offered by a Muslim cleric in Gujarat.
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Fast forward 12 years — after multiple political realignments — Kumar is now back with the BJP, gearing up for another electoral battle in Bihar with Narendra Modi as his ally.
With Bihar’s nearly 18% Muslim population considered a crucial voting bloc, the refusal to wear the cap has triggered criticism from opposition parties and murmurs within the minority community. While some see it as an attempt to avoid angering the BJP’s core base, others view it as a symbolic distancing from secular overtures.
Defending the Chief Minister, JD(U) MLC Khalid Anwar said Kumar did not dishonor the gesture but instead showed reverence by placing the cap — described as the "crown" of the community — on his minister’s head. “This was not rejection. It was symbolic of trust and respect,” he said. He also accused the opposition RJD of stoking communal tensions.
Adding to the event’s tension, a group of madrasa teachers protested over long-pending salary dues during the Chief Minister’s speech. As Kumar praised his administration’s record on minority welfare — including pay parity for madrasa teachers and rights for Muslim women — teachers interrupted the event, claiming his speech was out of touch with present realities.
“He kept referring to 2005 and 2006. But this is 2025. We want real solutions, not nostalgia,” said one protesting teacher outside the venue. Kumar later accepted a memorandum from the protestors, but the dissatisfaction was evident.
The incident underscores the delicate tightrope Nitish Kumar is walking, balancing his party’s historical emphasis on inclusive governance with the ideological expectations of his current ally, the BJP. As the election season heats up, every gesture — worn or unworn — carries weight.
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