‘She is determined not to join’: AYUSH doctor may decline govt service after Nitish Kumar hijab row

An AYUSH practitioner who recently secured a government posting is reconsidering her decision after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was filmed pulling down her hijab during an official programme in Patna.

Dr Nusrat Parveen’s brother, speaking to eNewsroom, said she remains deeply upset by what happened in public view.

“She is determined not to join the service. However, all family members, including me, are trying to convince her otherwise. We are telling her that it is the fault of the other person, so why should she feel bad or suffer because of it,” he said. He works as a professor at a government law university in Kolkata.

Parveen, whose husband teaches psychology at a college, is expected to report for duty on 20 December.

Opposition, women users target Chief Minister

Footage shared by the Rashtriya Janata Dal’s official X account triggered a wave of criticism online, particularly from women. The clip shows the chief minister lowering the doctor’s hijab moments after issuing her appointment letter.

One widely circulated reaction asked: “What has happened to Nitish ji? Has his mental condition completely deteriorated, or has Nitish Babu now become 100% Sanghi (a member of the RSS)?”

The Congress also demanded accountability, writing on X that Nitish Kumar “pulled off her hijab” and questioning women’s safety under his leadership. The party added: “Nitish Kumar should immediately resign for this disgusting behaviour.”

More than 24 hours later, neither the chief minister, his party nor the state administration has offered any explanation.

Pakistan-based underworld figure weighs in

Meanwhile, a Pakistan-based underworld operative Shahzad Bhatti released a video accusing the chief minister of wrongdoing and seeking a public apology.

In the message, Shahzad said a leader “at the helm of affairs” should not behave in such a manner with a Muslim woman and demanded that Nitish Kumar “immediately tender his apology for his action.” He further suggested he should not be blamed if anything “untoward” were to follow – an assertion interpreted locally as a threat. 

Police officials in Bihar have so far declined to comment on the clip, while security agencies continue to monitor the circulation of Bhatti’s messages.

Event details and reaction from political rivals

The incident occurred during the government’s distribution of appointment letters to 1,283 AYUSH doctors – including 685 Ayurvedic, 393 Homoeopathic and 205 Unani recruits.

According to the widely shared footage, Nitish Kumar questioned Dr Nusrat about her attire. After being told it was a hijab, he asked her to remove it and proceeded to lower the garment himself. A nearby official then appeared to guide her away from the stage, while Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary tugged at the chief minister’s sleeve, seemingly urging restraint.

RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed accused Nitish Kumar of humiliating women and stoking communal prejudice, alleging the chief minister was now focused on appeasing the BJP and the RSS. He argued that the episode signalled a government “completely implementing the ideology of the RSS” and called for an apology, claiming the act had “insulted the entire women’s community.”

Earlier controversies return to spotlight

This is not the first time Nitish Kumar has faced criticism for unusual conduct at public programmes. Before the last Assembly polls, he attracted scrutiny for clapping during the national anthem at an event in Patna – a moment that led some Opposition members to seek a medical evaluation. The ruling JD(U) dismissed those demands at the time, insisting that the chief minister was functioning normally.

(With inputs from agencies)