Congress and civil society would not relent until Nitish Kumar apologised publicly, resigned from office, Hyderabad District Congress Committee president Syed Khalid Saifullah said
HYDERABAD — Demanding an immediate public apology and resignation of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, hundreds of Congress activists led by Hyderabad District Congress Committee president Syed Khalid Saifullah staged a massive protest near the historic Charminar on Saturday over the incident in which the Chief Minister pulled off the hijab of a woman doctor during a public function in Patna. The protesters asserted that the act amounted to a serious violation of a woman’s dignity, bodily autonomy and constitutional rights, and warned that the agitation would continue until strict action was taken.
Speaking to media persons during the protest, Khalid Saifullah said a mere apology would not suffice and insisted that Nitish Kumar step down from his post to ensure accountability. He said the incident, which was captured on video and circulated widely, had shocked the conscience of the nation and could not be brushed aside as a trivial matter. He described the act as a physical assault carried out in full public view and said no individual, irrespective of position or power, had the right to touch a woman or interfere with her clothing without consent.
Thanking the citizens of Hyderabad, Congress workers, women’s organisations, student groups and media representatives for standing with the protest, Khalid said their presence reflected a collective stand for dignity, justice and the Constitution. He stressed that the issue was not political and did not concern party lines, but was about basic human dignity and women’s rights. When a woman was humiliated by someone holding constitutional authority, he said, silence was not an option.
Referring to Article 21 of the Constitution, Khalid said the right to life and personal liberty included the right to privacy, dignity and freedom of choice in attire. He said the incident affected every woman in the country and sent a dangerous message to society when a Chief Minister publicly disrespected a woman, suggesting that women’s bodies and choices were open to judgement or interference. Such conduct, he said, was unacceptable in a democratic and civilised country.
He criticised the National Commission for Women for remaining silent despite being empowered under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990, to take suo motu action in such cases. He said the Commission had intervened in several lesser-known incidents, and its inaction in a case involving a sitting Chief Minister was deeply disappointing. He demanded immediate notice and action by the NCW, asserting that the law must be equal for all, regardless of office.
Khalid warned that allowing such behaviour to go unchallenged would normalise abuse of power and open the door to further violations. He said Hyderabad was standing up for women, the Constitution and justice, and made it clear that the protest was peaceful, disciplined and fully within the boundaries of law. He asserted that democratic resistance was a constitutional right and would be exercised without fear.
As part of the agitation, the Hyderabad DCC President announced the launch of a toll-free miss-call number, 8826777445, to mobilise public participation. He said people giving a miss-call would receive a link enabling them to send emails directly to the National Commission for Women, demanding action against Nitish Kumar. He said the Congress would launch a bulk email campaign and ensure that thousands, and eventually lakhs, of emails reached the Commission until it acted.
The protest saw participation from leaders and activists of the Professional Congress, NSUI, Mahila Congress and Youth Congress, including Shailender, Navika, Ashfaq Khan, Uzma Shakir and Mamata Nagi Reddy, along with Assembly in-charges Nagesh and Rajesh.
Declaring that the agitation marked only the beginning, Khalid said the Congress and civil society would not relent until Nitish Kumar apologised publicly, resigned from office and the NCW initiated immediate action. He said Hyderabad had a long tradition of standing on the side of justice and dignity, and reiterated that the city would continue to raise its voice until accountability was ensured.
