Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Pulls Hijab of Muslim Doctor at Public Event; Parties React

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar sparked widespread controversy on December 15, 2025, after a video showed him pulling down the face-covering hijab (niqab) of a newly appointed Muslim AYUSH doctor, Nusrat Parveen, during an appointment letter distribution ceremony at the CM's secretariat in Patna. The 75-year-old leader handed over letters to select appointees among 1,283 AYUSH practitioners, gesturing at the doctor's veil, asking, "What is this?" and then tugging it down before she could fully respond, exposing her lower face as some attendees laughed and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary appeared to intervene.

JD(U) Minority Welfare Minister Zama Khan defended Kumar, stating that the Chief Minister "loves and respects daughters" and removed the veil affectionately to allow society to see the face of a "successful Muslim daughter." Khan accused opposition parties and certain Muslim leaders of attempting to defame Kumar, emphasizing his long-standing respect for women across communities.

Opposition parties reacted sharply, with the Congress calling the act "vile" and "shameless," questioning women's safety in Bihar, and demanding Kumar's immediate resignation. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) described it as reflecting the NDA alliance's attitude towards women and minorities, suggesting it violated constitutional rights to religious freedom and cultural practice, while also raising concerns about Kumar's mental fitness.

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Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) condemned the incident as "intolerable," urging Kumar to apologize if he had any remaining morality or shame, and questioning guarantees for women's respect and security when the Chief Minister behaved this way. AIMIM affirmed its commitment to protecting women's dignity and the right to wear hijab.

The viral video has intensified debates on personal boundaries, religious attire, and public conduct by leaders, with social media reactions divided between criticism of the act as harassment and support for interpretations of it as paternalistic encouragement.

As investigations or official responses remain pending, the episode adds to recent scrutiny of Kumar's public behavior, highlighting tensions around women's autonomy and minority rights in Bihar.

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