Leadership is the mirror through which the moral character of a nation is reflected. In societies that claim democratic maturity, elected leaders are expected to embody restraint, dignity, and respect for the rights and sensibilities of all citizens. The ballot is not merely a mechanism for the transfer of power; it is a covenant of trust through which people entrust their representatives with the protection of their honour, faith, and fundamental freedoms. India has long projected itself as the world’s largest democracy, taking pride in constitutionalism, pluralism, and the rule of law. Yet, from time to time, incidents occur that crack this carefully constructed façade and expose uncomfortable truths beneath the surface.

One such incident recently unfolded in the Indian state of Bihar, where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar crossed a line that no civilised leader should even approach. At a public function, in full view of cameras and attendees, he forcibly removed the veil of a Muslim woman, Dr. Nusrat Parveen. The act was neither accidental nor dismissible as a momentary lapse of judgment. It constituted a deliberate intrusion into a woman’s personal, religious, and bodily autonomy, carried out by the highest executive authority of the province. In a single moment, the dignity of an individual was violated, and the moral claims of the state were laid bare.

The veil, irrespective of one’s personal views, represents choice, faith, and identity for millions of Muslim women. To tear it away by force sends a chilling message: that power may........

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