Patna: A controversy has erupted in Bihar following an incident involving Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and a young Muslim woman doctor, Nusrat Parveen, during an appointment letter distribution programme on December 15. The episode, in which the Chief Minister briefly moved Nusrat’s hijab on stage, has triggered political reactions, public outrage and formal complaints in multiple states.
Nusrat Parveen, a postgraduate student of Unani medicine, is described by her teachers as a bright, disciplined and regular student with a strong academic record. A senior teacher from her college said Nusrat has been studying there for nearly seven years and has always attended classes wearing a hijab. “No one in the college has ever seen her face. She completed her undergraduate degree here and is currently pursuing postgraduation, with one year still remaining. She was very happy after receiving the joining message and had many dreams about her future. However, after this incident, she appears disturbed and has not come to college for the past four days,” the teacher said.
Nusrat is pursuing her medical education at the Government Tibbi College and Hospital, located in the Kadamkuan area of Patna. The institution is a prominent centre for Unani medicine education and healthcare, offering the Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery (BUMS) course along with postgraduate studies. The attached hospital provides OPD and inpatient services at affordable rates, where Nusrat also practices as part of her training.
When reporters visited the college, most staff members declined to speak, stating that only the principal was authorised to comment. After repeated requests, the principal agreed to speak. Principal Prof (Dr) Mohammad Mahfoozur Rahman said Nusrat Parveen is an academically strong student who qualified through an all-India entrance examination. “Her academic performance and conduct have always been commendable. The incident involving the Chief Minister has been misunderstood. There was no wrong intention; it was an expression of affection and respect, but it has been presented differently by sections of the media,” he said.
The principal further added that the Chief Minister has taken several initiatives for women’s empowerment, including 33 percent reservation for women in education and employment. “We do not see any negative intent on his part, but some people have diverted the issue in the wrong direction,” he said.
A professor from Nusrat’s department echoed similar views, describing her as a disciplined and polite student. “She is a first-year postgraduate student and has been associated with this college for years. She was regular in attending classes and always maintained dignity and discipline. Many students here wear hijab, so it was never seen as something unusual,” the professor said.
However, reactions among students have been sharply divided. Several students expressed anger over the incident, though most preferred not to speak on camera. Junior doctor Ishar Ahmed said the Chief Minister’s action was inappropriate and hurtful. “A woman’s dignity comes above everything else. Wearing a hijab is a personal choice, and interfering with it is wrong, regardless of whether the person is a Chief Minister or an ordinary citizen,” he said.
Ahmed demanded an apology from Nitish Kumar, stating that the government frequently speaks about women empowerment and initiatives like ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’. “This is the same Chief Minister who gave 33 percent reservation to women in Bihar. But what happened during the appointment letter distribution should never happen with any woman. In our society, women are given the status of goddesses. Such behaviour is shameful and forces society to introspect,” he added.
The incident occurred during the appointment letter distribution ceremony for AYUSH doctors. After handing over the appointment letter to Nusrat Parveen, the Chief Minister was seen gesturing towards her hijab and asking about it. When she replied that it was a hijab, he reportedly asked her to remove it and then moved it himself. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary was seen attempting to stop Nitish Kumar by pulling his sleeve. The moment left the woman visibly uncomfortable, while some people present at the event were seen laughing.
Following the incident, complaints have been filed against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Bengaluru, Lucknow and Ranchi. In Ranchi, social activist Mohammad Murtaza Alam submitted a written complaint at the Itki police station, demanding an investigation and action. The complaint stated that the issue is no longer private and has become a matter of public concern, alleging that the woman’s dignity was compromised on a public platform.
In Lucknow, Samajwadi Party state spokesperson and poet Munawwar Rana’s daughter, Sumaiya Rana, also filed a complaint at the Kaiserbagh police station. She termed the act of touching a woman’s hijab on a public stage as shameful and questioned the sensitivity of the leadership. She also objected to remarks made by Uttar Pradesh minister Sanjay Nishad in connection with the controversy, calling them insensitive.
