Led by state president Ribu Srivastava, protesters gathered at the district headquarters, raising slogans demanding the dismissal of Kumar, Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Sanjay Nishad, and Union minister Giriraj Singh.
They submitted a memorandum addressed to the President and the Uttar Pradesh Governor via the Additional District Magistrate (City), calling for strict action against leaders who made or endorsed remarks undermining women's dignity.
Srivastava condemned the December 15 incident in Patna, where Kumar removed the niqab of a female AYUSH doctor receiving her appointment letter. "Forcibly touching a woman's veil on stage is unacceptable and demands immediate cognisance from the central government," she said.
She slammed Nishad and Singh for defending Kumar, describing their statements as reflective of a "perverted mindset" that exposes hypocrisy in claims of respecting religion and culture.
"Whether hijab or dupatta, interfering with it assaults a woman's dignity—a grave offence," Srivastava asserted. She accused the ruling alliance of reducing women's respect to mere rhetoric.
The protesters argued that justifying such acts makes defenders complicit, warning that without genuine regard for women, neither religion nor societal values can endure.
The Mahila Sabha reiterated that women's dignity is a constitutional right, not a concession, and sought legal measures against those issuing anti-women statements or shielding perpetrators.
The protest highlights escalating political fallout from the viral video, which has drawn widespread criticism for violating personal autonomy and religious freedom.
