Nitish Kumar under fire for pulling down woman’s hijab at event; Oppn calls it ‘disgusting act’ | Video

A video from a government event in Patna on Monday has triggered a major political controversy after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was seen removing the hijab of a woman doctor while handing over appointment letters.

The incident took place at a programme held at the Chief Minister’s residence, where appointment letters were being distributed to newly recruited AYUSH doctors. Nusrat Parveen, one of the appointees, stepped forward to receive her appointment letter.

After handing over the document, Nitish Kumar gestured towards the doctor’s headscarf, asked her about it, and then instructed her to remove it. Seconds later, he was seen pulling it down himself. The woman appeared visibly uncomfortable for a brief period, as some people present at the event were heard laughing.

The video of the incident quickly went viral on social media, drawing sharp reactions from opposition parties. The Rashtriya Janata Dal shared the clip and criticised the chief minister, asking, “What has happened to Nitish ji? Has his mental state deteriorated completely, or has Nitish Babu now become 100% Sanghi?”

The Congress also launched a scathing attack, calling the incident a “disgusting act” and demanding Nitish Kumar’s immediate resignation. “If a person occupying the highest constitutional post in the state behaves in such a disgraceful manner in public, one can only imagine how safe women are in the state,” the party said. In a post on X, the Congress added that the chief minister’s conduct was “unforgivable”.