A video shot at an event where Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was distributing appointment letters to AYUSH doctors showed Mr. Kumar pointing at a woman’s headscarf and then suddenly pulling it off. Credit: Screenshot from X/@RJDforIndia
A Muslim doctor whose hijab was ripped off by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar did not join duty on Saturday (December 20, 2025), the last day of joining.
On December 15, when Mr. Kumar was distributing appointment letters to the newly appointed AYUSH (Ayurvedic, Homeopathic and Unani) doctors, Nusrat Parveen pulled off her hijab as she approached to receive the appointment letter. She is a post graduate student of Government Tibbi College and Hospital, Patna.
According to her friend, Ms. Parveen was scheduled to join duty at the Sabalpur Primary Health Center under Patna Sadar today after reporting to District Civil Surgeon Avinash Kumar Singh.
“Today (December 20) at 6 pm was the last date for her to join duty but she did not come. But that does not mean she cannot join later. There is a possibility if the health department allows her to join. There would be no problem,” Mr Singh told The Hindu.
Since the incident, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and several sections of the society have been criticizing Mr. Kumar’s act. Lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar demanded an unconditional apology from the chief minister.
However, when asked about the issue, Union Minister Giriraj Singh brushed it off, saying a woman “can refuse to take the job or go to hell”.
The incident also drew a reaction from Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari, who offered Ms. Parveena a government job with a monthly salary of ₹3 lakh. “The inhumane and disgraceful incident of doctor Dr. Nusrat Parveen in Bihar has shocked the entire country. Pulling off the hijab is not just an insult to one woman but to the constitution and humanity. There is no compromise in Jharkhand when it comes to respect for daughters and doctors. We will give her ₹300 per month monthly salary, a government job and respect for the environment.
Mr. Ansari hit out at the Bihar Chief Minister and asked him to apologize for his act.
Published – 20 Dec 2025 21:03 IST
