A controversy has erupted in Bihar after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was accused of pulling the hijab of a woman AYUSH doctor during a government appointment ceremony in Patna. The incident has triggered sharp reactions from opposition parties across the country, who have described the act as inappropriate and deeply embarrassing.
Leaders from the Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Samajwadi Party (SP), and Shiv Sena (UBT) have condemned the alleged behaviour and targeted the NDA government over the issue.
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said Nitish Kumar and the BJP should be ashamed, adding that no mentally sound person has the right to remove a woman’s veil, burqa, or hijab. Congress spokesperson Udit Raj went further, claiming the Chief Minister appeared mentally unstable and had displayed similar behaviour in the past.
RJD MP Manoj Jha said the visuals were disturbing and noted that Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary was seen trying to stop Nitish Kumar during the incident. He added that such visuals send a poor message and raise serious concerns.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi called the incident “highly shameful” and said it amounted to harassment. She demanded a public apology, stating that no Chief Minister has the authority to remove someone’s hijab.
Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad alleged that Nitish Kumar’s mental condition had weakened and said he should seek medical treatment, calling the episode unfortunate for Bihar.
Responding to the criticism, JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar defended the Chief Minister and accused the opposition of ignoring positive developments such as employment generation without land acquisition. He also counter-attacked the RJD, suggesting it should demand the resignation of its leader citing health reasons.
What Is the Case?
The incident reportedly occurred on Monday at the Bihar Secretariat’s ‘Samvad’ auditorium during an appointment letter distribution ceremony for newly recruited AYUSH doctors. A video clip circulating on social media shows Chief Minister Nitish Kumar allegedly pulling down the hijab of a woman doctor while handing over her appointment letter.
According to official information, over 1,000 AYUSH doctors were appointed, including 685 Ayurveda, 393 Homeopathy, and 205 Unani practitioners. The Chief Minister personally handed appointment letters to 10 candidates, while others received theirs online.
When the woman doctor, identified as Nusrat Parveen, approached the stage wearing a hijab, the 75-year-old Chief Minister reportedly questioned her attire and pulled down her face covering. An official quickly moved the visibly shaken doctor away, while Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary was seen attempting to intervene.
Opposition parties, including the RJD and Congress, have shared the video on social media, alleging that it reflects the JD(U) supremo’s “unstable mental state.” The authenticity of the video, however, has not been independently verified.
