Javed Akhtar, known for never softening his words, has strongly condemned a video from Bihar that is now spreading rapidly online. The clip shows Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at a government event in Patna, handing over appointment certificates to newly selected AYUSH doctors.
As the video shows, a woman doctor steps forward to receive her certificate. She is wearing a hijab. Nitish Kumar gestures at her face, appearing to ask her to remove it. Before she can respond or even understand what is happening, the Chief Minister reaches out and pulls down her hijab himself, exposing her mouth and chin.
The action lasts only seconds. But the impact has been huge.
Laughter, shock, and an attempt to intervene
In the background of the video, a few people can be seen laughing awkwardly. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary appears visibly uncomfortable and is seen trying to stop Nitish Kumar. The woman doctor stands still clearly caught off guard in front of a full audience and cameras.
For many viewers, it was not just about religion or clothing. It was about power, consent, and basic respect.
Javed Akhtar reacts to hijab controversy involving Nitish Kumar
Reacting to the video, Javed Akhtar took to social media and did not hold back. He made it clear that even though he has long criticised the idea of parda and face coverings, what happened in Patna was completely unacceptable.
Akhtar wrote that no personal belief can ever justify touching a woman without her consent or publicly humiliating her. He said Nitish Kumar owes the woman doctor an unconditional apology and condemned the act in the strongest possible words.
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
Earlier views of Javed Akhtar on hijab and burqa
Interestingly, the controversy has also brought back attention to Javed Akhtar’s earlier comments on hijab and burqa. Speaking at the SOA Literary Festival earlier this year, Akhtar was asked whether covering the face makes a woman less strong.
His answer was layered but firm. He said strength has nothing to do with clothing. At the same time, he questioned why a woman should feel the need to hide her face at all. According to him, there is nothing shameful or undignified about a woman’s face.
Akhtar clarified that he believes both men and women should dress decently. He said revealing clothes do not look dignified on anyone, whether it is a man wearing shorts to college or a woman choosing an outfit. But decency, he stressed, does not mean covering one’s face.
For him, dignity lies in choice and self-respect, not forced rules.
Akhtar also spoke about what he sees as social pressure behind face coverings. He argued that if a woman says she is covering her face entirely by choice, that choice itself is shaped by years of conditioning and approval from society.
Congress calls the act “unforgivable”
ये बिहार के मुख्यमंत्री नीतीश कुमार हैं।
इनकी बेशर्मी देखिए- एक महिला डॉक्टर जब अपना नियुक्ति पत्र लेने आई तो नीतीश कुमार ने उनका हिजाब खींच लिया।
बिहार के सबसे बड़े पद पर बैठा हुआ आदमी सरेआम ऐसी नीच हरकत कर रहा है। सोचिए- राज्य में महिलाएं कितनी सुरक्षित होंगी?
नीतीश कुमार… pic.x.com/2AO6czZfAA
— Congress (@INCIndia) December 15, 2025
The Indian National Congress also reacted sharply. In a social media post, the party accused Nitish Kumar of behaving shamelessly and misusing his position of power. The post questioned how safe women could feel in Bihar if the Chief Minister himself behaved this way in public.
The party went further, demanding that Nitish Kumar resign, calling the incident disgusting and unforgivable.