Hijab Row: Traumatised AYUSH Doctor Nusrat Parveen Leaves Bihar, Refuses to Join Govt Job After Nitish Kumar Incident
“Whatever the CM’s Intention, It Hurt Me”: Nusrat Returns to Kolkata Family; Opposition Slams “Vile Act”, JD(U) Calls It “Fatherly Gesture”
Patna, December 17, 2025: A major controversy has erupted in Bihar after a video went viral showing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pulling down the hijab (niqab) of newly appointed AYUSH doctor Nusrat Parveen during an appointment letter distribution ceremony on December 15.
The incident occurred at the ‘Samvad’ programme in the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Patna, where over 1,283 AYUSH doctors received their appointment letters. When Dr. Nusrat Parveen, wearing a face-covering hijab, stepped forward to receive her letter from the CM, Nitish Kumar reportedly frowned, asked “What is this?”, and then reached down from the raised platform to pull the veil off her face.
The young doctor appeared startled and was quickly moved aside by officials. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary was seen trying to restrain the CM during the moment.
Deeply traumatised by the public incident, Dr. Nusrat Parveen has left Bihar and returned to her family in Kolkata. Reports indicate she has decided not to join the government service, scheduled for December 20, despite family members urging her to reconsider.
In media statements, Nusrat said: “Whatever the Chief Minister’s intention, it hurt me. There were many people present, some were even laughing. As a girl, facing this in public was deeply distressing.” She added that she has always worn hijab in school, college, and public places without issue.
Opposition parties have sharply criticised the CM. The RJD questioned his “mental state” and accused him of adopting a “Sanghi mindset”, while Congress called it a “shameless and vile act”, demanding his resignation and raising concerns over women’s safety in Bihar.
JD(U) leaders defended Nitish Kumar, with Minority Affairs Minister Jama Khan describing the gesture as “fatherly” and aimed at highlighting progress of minority girls. No official statement or apology has come from the CM or the Bihar government so far.
The row has sparked widespread debate on women’s dignity, religious freedom, and personal choice, with complaints filed against the CM in some places.
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