Bihar Chief Minister Sparks Outrage by Removing Doctor's Hijab

In a controversial incident that has garnered widespread attention, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar removed the hijab of a newly appointed AYUSH doctor during an official event in Patna on Monday. The event, where appointment letters were distributed to over 1,000 AYUSH practitioners, has sparked significant political backlash and raised concerns regarding women's rights in the state.

The incident occurred at the Chief Minister's secretariat, known as 'Samvad', during a ceremony attended by the newly appointed doctors. Among the 1,283 appointees were 685 Ayurvedic practitioners, 393 Homeopathic doctors, and 205 Unani medicine specialists. While many of the appointment letters were issued online, ten individuals, including Nusrat Parveen, received their letters directly from the Chief Minister.

As Nusrat Parveen approached to receive her appointment letter, the 75-year-old Chief Minister appeared taken aback by her hijab, which covered her face. Reports indicate that he exclaimed, "What is this?" before reaching down to pull the hijab away. The video of this incident quickly went viral, leading to a flurry of reactions on social media.

Following the incident, some attendees at the event were reportedly seen laughing, while an official intervened to pull Nusrat Parveen aside. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary was also seen attempting to restrain Kumar during the incident, which has been described by critics as deeply troubling.

Political parties such as the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Indian National Congress were quick to condemn the Chief Minister's actions. The RJD shared the video on their social media, questioning Kumar's mental state, stating, "What has happened to Nitish ji? Has his mental state deteriorated completely?".

The Congress party issued a statement labelling the act as "disgusting" and called for Kumar's resignation, asserting, "If a person occupying the highest post in the state behaves in such a disgraceful manner in public, one can only imagine how safe women are in the state." They further described the incident as "shameless", highlighting concerns over women's safety in Bihar.

Despite the backlash, the Chief Minister's office has not released an official statement addressing the incident. As the political ramifications of this event unfold, it remains to be seen what impact it will have on Kumar's leadership and the broader societal discourse on women's rights and religious expressions in India.

The newly appointed AYUSH doctors are expected to serve in various healthcare facilities under the AYUSH Medical Services and the National Health Mission, contributing to outpatient services and community health initiatives across Bihar. Their roles are critical in enhancing healthcare delivery, particularly in rural and underserved areas of the state, as part of the National Child Health Programme.