Union Minister Says Woman Can 'Go To Hell', Clamour For Apology Grows

NITISH-NAQAB ROW

- Press Trust Of India

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was in the crosshairs of controversy for the fourth day on Thursday -- a Union minister defending his act of pulling down a Muslim woman's veil, his colleague looking to put a lid on the row while the chorus of outrage from across sections grew louder.

The incident, a video clip of which has been circulated widely and sparked a major political row, took place on Monday at the chief minister's secretariat in Patna when Ayush doctors had gathered to receive their letters of appointment. When the woman came up for her letter, Kumar saw her 'naqab', said "what is this" and then removed the veil.

As opposition parties asked Kumar for an unconditional apology and others articulated their distress, Union minister Giriraj Singh waded right into the row and said it is up to the woman to refuse the appointment or "go to hell".

Kumar, Singh insisted, had done nothing wrong.

"If someone is going to collect an appointment letter, should they not show their face? Is this some Islamic country? Nitish Kumar acted as a guardian," he argued.