The treatment of religious minorities in plural societies is often one of the most important indicators of democratic health. Constitutionally declared a secular republic, India has always presented itself as a nation where diverse religions coexist under the rule of law. However, recent events raise serious questions about whether this constitutional promise is being fulfilled in reality. The case of the hijab removal by the Chief Minister of Bihar in December 2025 serves as one exposé that further reveals structural issues concerning minority rights, gender dignity, and the increasing role of Hindutva ideology in Indian public life.
On 15 December 2025, a video showed the Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, forcibly removing the hijab of a Muslim woman doctor during an official government ceremony where she was being given an appointment letter. This inappropriate behavior occurred in front of seniors and was followed by the apparent uneasiness of the woman and laughter from certain participants. The video went viral across social media and news outlets, leading to a huge backlash not only in India but around the world.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan officially expressed its condemnation of the incident, deeming it extremely disturbing and a threat to the normalization of women’s rights against Muslims in India. International human rights organizations such as Amnesty International also condemned the act, citing violated personal dignity, religious freedom, and bodily autonomy. These responses indicate the severity of the problem, not as a one-time phenomenon, but as a component of a new trend.
Although some defenders tried to dismiss the event as a mere misunderstanding or an isolated incident, the broader context in which it occurred remains crucial. In India, there has been a consistent increase in majoritarian politics based on Hindutva ideology, a form of nationalist politics that defines Indian identity through a Hindu prism, over the last decade. Apparently, this ideology is becoming more marginalizing to Muslims and Christians, as well as other minorities, as it labels them as culturally suspect or expendable in politics.
These concerns are supported by data. India Hate Lab stated in 2024 that hate speech against religious minorities had increased by about 74 percent. Most of these attacks targeted Muslims and occurred mainly during political ceremonies or rallies. According to researchers’ observations, this type of rhetoric often goes unpunished, which makes discriminatory behavior socially acceptable.
The hijab incident is a symptom of this environment. A top political figure publicly attacking the religious attire of a Muslim woman, with a low likelihood of facing consequences in the near future, signals that minority dignity is no longer a political priority.
The experience of Muslim women in India is two-fold: they face discrimination both as women and as Muslims. In the last few years, controversies over bans on the hijab in educational institutions, online harassment, and specific hate speech have disproportionately worked against Muslim women. The practice of wearing this clothing has been politicized, and the bodies of Muslim women are becoming a site of ideological control.
Pointlessly demanding the removal of a hijab is not a non-partisan action. For most women, the hijab is a self-proclamation of their religion. This means that interfering with it, particularly by an individual in power, would be a form of infringement on the freedom of religion and autonomy. When such an act occurs at a state-sponsored event, the role of the state in safeguarding or violating constitutional rights is called into question.
Article 25 of the Constitution of India currently grants freedom of religion, while Article 14 ensures equality before the law. Nevertheless, critics claim that the implementation of these guarantees has become weaker. This is because recent alterations of law and administrative measures have predominantly impacted Muslim communities.
Some examples include massive displacements of Muslim families in places like Assam, alterations to legislation regulating Muslim religious endowments (waqf properties), and the selective application of legislation governing citizenship and residency. Although these practices are usually justified under legal or administrative discourse, human rights organizations believe they have a cumulative discriminatory effect.
The poor institutional reaction to events such as the hijab case in Bihar also diminishes trust. If political leaders are not held accountable, minorities can justifiably assume that the system offers limited protection to them.
The Hindutva ideology supports cultural homogeneity through a Hindu nationalist lens. Although some of its adherents claim that it symbolizes national unity, opponents argue that it negatively impacts India’s pluralistic principles. The preferential benefits given to one religious identity at the expense of others, engendered by Hindutva, create social hierarchies that undermine the citizenship of minorities.
The core issue is not one of religious belief, but the politicization of religion. In a situation where state power aligns with a majoritarian ideology, minorities will be subjected to being symbolically othered rather than treated as equal citizens. The incidence of the hijab demonstrates that this ideology can be applied even in the context of day-to-day humiliation, without the need for formal policy alterations.
The variety of civil society organizations in India, along with political opposition and female rights movements, criticized the event and urged for accountability. Legal complaints were reportedly filed, and disputes arose among the people concerning dignity, consent, and constitutional values. Reactions from political leaders allied to the ruling party were, however, divided, as some sought to justify the act instead of openly condemning it.
Globally, the episode contributed to the mounting criticism of human rights in India. Reports from global organizations are raising further questions about religious freedom, the autonomy of the press, and the protection of minorities. This scrutiny has diplomatic consequences, especially for a nation projecting itself as a world democratic leader.
The Bihar hijab case is not just about one politician and one woman. It is an expression of a more general shift in India’s political and social situation, in which the rights of minorities appear to be becoming particularly vulnerable. The consequences are not limited to the immediate victim when dignity, religious freedom, and equality are breached in the public eye.
Whether a society is democratic is determined by how it safeguards its minorities rather than how it treats its majority. To adhere to the ideals of its constitution, India needs to move beyond just symbolic gestures and ensure actual accountability, respect, and protection for its citizens, irrespective of their religion, gender, or identity.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the author’s own. They do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of the South Asia Times.
