A routine government appointment ceremony in Bihar's capital took a shocking and controversial turn on Monday when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar physically removed the hijab from the face of a newly recruited doctor. The incident, captured on video, has since gone viral, triggering a major political storm and raising serious questions about conduct and religious sensitivity.
The Controversial Moment at 'Samvad' Secretariat
The event was held at 'Samvad', the Chief Minister's secretariat in Patna, where appointment letters were being distributed to over 1,000 newly recruited AYUSH doctors. According to details from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), the appointees included 685 Ayurveda doctors, 393 Homeopaths, and 205 Unani medicine practitioners. While most received their letters online, a select group of ten was chosen to receive them physically from the Chief Minister himself.
The situation unfolded when it was the turn of Nusrat Parveen to step forward. Parveen, who had arrived wearing a hijab that covered her face, approached the 75-year-old Chief Minister. Eyewitness accounts and the viral video show Kumar frowning and exclaiming, "what is this?" Standing on a raised platform, he then bent down and pulled the veil down from her face.
Immediate Aftermath and Political Reactions
The moment left the appointee visibly flustered. An official present at the occasion hastily pulled her aside. In a telling gesture, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who was standing beside Kumar, was seen tugging at the CM's sleeve, appearing to try and restrain him. The video clip was quickly circulated on social media platforms.
Opposition parties were swift to seize upon the incident. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress party shared the video on their official social media accounts. They condemned the act, with many leaders claiming it was the latest evidence of the Janata Dal (United) supremo's "unstable mental health". The incident has provided fresh ammunition for political attacks in the state's charged atmosphere.
Broader Implications and Unanswered Questions
While the authenticity of the video was noted as not independently verified by PTI, its widespread circulation has made it a focal point of public discourse. The event raises significant questions about the boundaries of personal religious expression in public spaces and the conduct expected of high-ranking public officials during formal state functions.
The controversy overshadows the positive news of the mass recruitment in the AYUSH sector, which is a significant boost for healthcare in Bihar. The focus has now shifted entirely to the Chief Minister's actions and the subsequent political fallout. The incident is likely to have lasting repercussions on the political narrative in Bihar, with debates centering on dignity, religious freedom, and executive behavior.
