Nitish Kumar faces backlash after video allegedly shows him pulling hijab of woman doctor at Patna event

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has once again landed in controversy after a video from a government function in Patna allegedly showed him pulling the hijab of a Muslim woman doctor.

The incident, which reportedly took place during an appointment letter distribution programme, has triggered sharp criticism from the Congress and RJD, with the Opposition demanding the chief minister’s resignation.

According to reports, the event was organised at the Chief Minister’s residence, where appointment letters were being distributed to newly recruited AYUSH doctors. The woman doctor has been identified as Nusrat Parveen.

In the video that has gone viral on social media, Nitish Kumar is seen handing over the appointment letter to her and then gesturing towards her headscarf. Moments later, he is allegedly seen pulling her hijab, leaving the woman visibly startled and confused for a brief moment.

The Congress party strongly condemned the incident, calling the chief minister’s conduct “shameful” and “indecent.” Sharing the video on X (formerly Twitter), the party said, “This is Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Look at his shameless behaviour. A woman doctor had come to receive her appointment letter, and the chief minister pulled her hijab.”

Expressing concern over women’s safety in the state, the Congress added, “If a person holding the highest constitutional office in Bihar behaves like this publicly, one can imagine how safe women are in the state.” The party demanded Nitish Kumar’s immediate resignation, stating that such behaviour was “unforgivable.”

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), an ally of the Congress, also criticised the chief minister, questioning his conduct and sensitivity, especially towards women and minorities.

Reports suggest that during the programme, Nitish Kumar appeared to ask the doctor about her headscarf and allegedly indicated that it should be removed. Before she could respond, he is accused of pulling it himself. However, there has been no official response from the Chief Minister’s Office regarding the controversy so far.

At the event, appointment letters were distributed to a total of 1,283 AYUSH doctors, including 685 Ayurvedic, 393 Homeopathy, and 205 Unani practitioners. The incident has added to a series of recent controversies involving the Bihar chief minister, further intensifying political tensions in the state.

Also Read: 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War: a defining chapter in South Asian history