Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has come under sharp criticism after an incident during an official government function where he was seen pulling the hijab of a newly appointed female AYUSH doctor. The episode took place at the chief minister’s secretariat, Samvad, in Patna, during a programme organised to distribute appointment letters to doctors selected under the state’s AYUSH recruitment drive. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media, leading to strong reactions from opposition parties, though the authenticity of the clip could not be independently verified.
According to information released by the chief minister’s office, more than 1,000 AYUSH doctors were appointed at the event. These included 685 Ayurvedic doctors, 393 homeopathy practitioners and 205 Unani doctors. Ten candidates received their appointment letters directly from the chief minister on stage, while others were handed their letters through an online process. When one of the doctors, identified as Nusrat Parveen, came forward wearing a hijab that covered her face, the chief minister reportedly questioned it and then pulled the veil down while standing on the dais.
The doctor appeared visibly uncomfortable after the incident and was quickly moved away by an official present at the venue. Deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary, who was standing next to Nitish Kumar, was also seen trying to stop him by holding his arm. The visuals drew immediate political reactions, with opposition leaders sharing the video on social media and calling the act disrespectful. Congress, RJD, Samajwadi Party and Shiv Sena leaders described the incident as disturbing and said it reflected poorly on the conduct expected from a chief minister.
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said no individual has the right to interfere with a woman’s choice of clothing, while Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi called the act shameful and demanded an apology. RJD MP Manoj Jha said the visuals raised serious concerns and did not send a good message about Bihar’s leadership. In response, leaders from the ruling JD(U) accused the opposition of politicising the issue and ignoring the government’s efforts in providing jobs and improving public services. Even as the political blame game continues, the incident has sparked a broader discussion on respect, personal freedom and the responsibilities that come with holding high public office.
