The latest controversy stirred by 74-year-old Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar, after he pulled down a female doctor’s niqab (veil) during a government function in Patna on December 15, is refusing to die.
Nearly 1,900 km from Patna, Nitish Kumar’s provocative act has sparked a passionate debate among Jammu and Kashmir’s socio-religious and political groups as well as civil society coalitions. Across the Kashmir Valley, there is widespread condemnation and outrage, with most major voices demanding accountability.
However, the local unit of the BJP is the solitary platform in the region that stands in solidarity with the Bihar Chief Minister.