Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday expressed shock and outrage over a viral video showing Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar allegedly pulling down the hijab of a Muslim woman during a public event. The incident, which occurred during a felicitation ceremony, has sparked widespread debate and criticism across political and social circles.

Mufti, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, questioned Kumar’s mental fitness for office, stating that his age cannot be used to justify humiliating women. “Having personally known and admired Nitish ji, I was shocked to see him pull down a young Muslim woman’s niqab,” she wrote in a post on X, questioning whether the act reflected old age or the normalization of public humiliation of Muslims.

She also expressed dismay over the reaction of those present at the event, suggesting that the people around the Chief Minister treated the incident as a form of entertainment. “The fact that people around him watched this horrific incident unfold is even more unsettling,” she added, urging Nitish Kumar to consider stepping down from office.

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Mehbooba’s comments implicitly challenge Kumar’s suitability for leadership, coinciding with ongoing discussions in Bihar about the Chief Minister’s health and overall fitness for office. Opposition parties have previously raised concerns regarding his capacity to perform official duties effectively.

The viral video has intensified scrutiny on public figures’ conduct and sparked debates about accountability, respect for women, and minority rights in political spaces. Analysts suggest that such incidents could have political ramifications ahead of upcoming electoral cycles, as public sentiment appears increasingly sensitive to perceived lapses in leadership ethics.

The Bihar government has yet to issue a formal statement on the incident, while political observers await reactions from other key parties and civil society groups, highlighting the potential long-term impact on Nitish Kumar’s political credibility.

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