Patna: A controversy erupted in Bihar on Monday after a video from an official government programme surfaced, showing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar allegedly removing the hijab of a woman AYUSH doctor while handing over appointment letters.
The incident has sparked sharp reactions from opposition parties, who have termed the act inappropriate and humiliating.
The episode took place during a formal ceremony held at the Chief Minister’s residence in Patna, where appointment letters were being distributed to newly recruited AYUSH doctors.
One of the appointees, Nusrat Parveen, stepped forward to receive her appointment letter from the chief minister.
According to the video circulating widely on social media, after handing over the document, Nitish Kumar gestured towards the woman’s headscarf, appeared to ask her something about it, and then instructed her to remove it.
Moments later, he was seen taking off the hijab himself.
The woman appeared visibly uncomfortable and distressed for a brief moment, while some people present at the event were seen smiling or laughing, further adding to the unease captured in the footage.
As the video went viral, opposition parties launched a fierce attack on the chief minister.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) shared the clip on social media and questioned Nitish Kumar’s conduct and state of mind.
In a strongly worded post, the party asked whether the chief minister’s mental condition had deteriorated or whether he had “completely turned Sanghi,” drawing sharp political and ideological overtones.
The Congress party went a step further, demanding Nitish Kumar’s immediate resignation.
Calling the incident a “disgusting” and “shameless” act, the party said the behaviour was unbecoming of someone holding the highest constitutional office in the state.
“If a person occupying the top post in the state behaves in such a disgraceful manner in public, one can only imagine how safe women are in Bihar,” the Congress said in a statement.
Reiterating its stand on social media platform X, the party wrote that pulling off a woman doctor’s hijab during an official function was reprehensible and unforgivable, and that Nitish Kumar must step down for what it described as gross misconduct.
The incident has reignited debates around women’s dignity, personal autonomy, and religious sensitivity, especially when actions are carried out by those in positions of power during official state events.
While the Bihar government has yet to issue a detailed clarification on the matter, the opposition continues to mount pressure, framing the episode as a serious violation of respect and decorum.
As the political backlash intensifies, the video has become a flashpoint in Bihar’s already charged political atmosphere, with questions being raised not just about one incident, but about leadership, accountability, and the message such actions send in public life.
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