Nitish Kumar's Security Beefed Up After Hijab Row Uproar & Pak Threat
After a political uproar and allegations of a hijab-related incident at a public event in Patna, the security of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been enhanced. The step was taken after the intelligence agencies have sent their inputs when the Opposition parties were criticizing the government vehemently.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) December 18: The security of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has been increased, and the whole administrative machinery has been put on alert considering the intelligence inputs that followed the hijab controversy.
Intelligence agencies have feared that a few anti-social and illegal elements might try to harm the CM at his official functions.
Pakistani Don's Threat Adds to Tensions
Along with the hijab controversy, Kumar was also threatened by Pakistani don in a not-so-friendly manner. It is claimed that a person named Shehzad Bhatti from Pakistan gave a threatening message to the Chief Minister.
Nevertheless, the security officials have kept the information about the changes in the security arrangements confidential. Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar, along with other top police officials, strengthened the CM’s security on Thursday. Later, the state police headquarters through a circular issued directions to all senior superintendents of police (SSPs) and superintendents of police (SPs) not to allow people to come close to him during functions happening in their areas of jurisdiction. They need to be careful that no one comes too close to him.
Giriraj Singh Defends CM's 'Guardian' Act
Union minister Giriraj Singh has been the most vocal defender of Nitish Kumar amidst the hijab controversy. Today, he had a message for the lady who wouldn't reveal her face to him. Singh had on the previous day vehemently supported Kumar, stating that the chief minister has not erred as verification of identity is equally necessary for a job as it is for voting.
“If anyone goes to take an appointment letter, should they not show their face? Is this an Islamic nation? Nitish ji was acting as a guardian... If you go to take your passport, or go to the airport, do you not show your face? You talk about Pakistan and 'Englishtan'. This is India and only Indian laws will work here. Nitish Kumar did nothing wrong," he said.
Opposition Demands Public Apology
The opposition leaders branded the Chief Minister's move as a "shameful" one and something that cannot be accepted. They also charged Nitish Kumar with insulting the religious sentiments and called for an answer to the incident from which the accountability should have been derived.
SP MP Iqra Hasan condemned the Bihar Chief Minister. She said, "The government talks about respecting women. A woman who reached that position on the basis of her merit was humiliated by the Chief Minister of the state. Today, she has left Bihar and gone to live with her brother in Kolkata. We strongly condemn this incident. We understand that the Chief Minister is elderly, but no elderly or father-like figure has the right to behave like this with a woman. We demand that the Chief Minister publicly apologise to the woman.”
Kumar's Veil-Lifting Act at Patna Event Ignites National Hijab Row
During a function to hand over appointment letters to more than 1,200 AYUSH doctors on Tuesday, Kumar was first seen talking to the doctor who was veiled. After that, he was seen removing the veil as the Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary was trying to stop him. The lady, Nusrat Parveen, became scared when the Chief Minister acted.
The matter escalated into a huge scandal all over the nation after the video of the incident got viral on various social media platforms.
