Watch video: Bank employee denies cash payment to girl wearing hijab in India's Bihar state

Patna: Amid continuing controversy over Hijab in Karnataka, a public sector bank allegedly denied cash payment to a Muslim girl in Bihar as she was wearing a Hijab.

The bank, however, relented and allowed her to withdraw cash only after strong protests by the girl, a Grade 12 student.

The incident took place at Mansoor Chowk branch of UCO bank in Begusarai district last week but came to light after a video of the incident went viral on social media. Begusarai is represented by Bhartiya Janata Party leader Giriraj Singh in Lok Sabha. Singh is a federal minister for Rural Development Panchayati Raj in the Narendra Modi government.

According to reports, the girl filled up the withdrawal slip at the bank and waited for her turn to get the cash. However, when her turn came, the cashier asked her to remove the Hijab to “confirm” her identity which she strongly protested.

She instantly informed her father who rushed to the bank.

In the next few minutes, the girl and her father had a verbal altercation with the bank officials over the issue during which the latter also asked them to show any directive from the government preventing cash withdrawal by the persons wearing Hijab. Even as the altercation continued, the girl recorded the entire incident on her mobile despite objections from the bank officials and later posted it on social media which has now gone viral.

“My daughter has a savings bank account with this branch, and several times in the past, she withdrew cash, she was told to remove the veil from her face this time. This never happened before,” girl’s father, Matin Khan, told the local media.

As the controversy generated heat, the bank officials were quick to issue a clarification saying the incident had nothing to do with the Hijab row and it was done purely to confirm her identity. The bank also issued a statement: “Bank respects the religious sentiments of the citizens and does not discriminate its esteemed customers on basis of caste or religion. Bank is checking the facts on this issue.”

Bihar opposition leader and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) lawmaker Tejashwi Yadav hit out at chief minister Nitish Kumar for being a mute spectator to such an incident in his home state.

“How long will you remain silent just to cling to power? (I) understand you have mortgaged your ideologies, principles and inner voice to the BJP but at least keep note of the oath of the Constitution you have taken. Please arrest the people involved in this incident,” Tejashwi tweeted.