Bihar Governor Defends Nitish Kumar After Hijab Incident
Bihar AYUSH doctor skips joining amid controversy.
Dr Nursat Parveen, the young Bihar AYUSH doctor who captured national attention when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar publicly pulled down her hijab during a formal government function in Patna last week, chose not to report for her assigned duty at Sabalpur Primary Health Centre in Patna Sadar by the mandatory Saturday 6 pm deadline, effectively prolonging the intense public and political debate sparked by the viral incident.
Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan stepped forward to strongly defend Nitish Kumar's conduct in the matter, portraying the Chief Minister as a paternal figure toward the doctor and insisting that the gesture represented nothing more than affectionate guidance and discipline typically shown by a father to a daughter, while pointing out precedents where the health department has accommodated extensions for new appointees facing similar joining delays.
Strict health department regulations mandate that all newly selected doctors, including Parveen, undergo a series of obligatory administrative and medical procedures—such as comprehensive health examinations and thorough document verification processed through the State Health Committee—before they can officially commence patient care and other responsibilities at their designated postings.
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Confirmation came directly from Patna civil surgeon Dr Avinash Kumar Singh that Parveen did not present herself for joining formalities, noting that she forms part of a group of 12 out of 75 recently selected AYUSH doctors who have yet to assume their roles despite 63 others already integrating smoothly into the system, with officials indicating flexibility for potential extensions in her case.
The controversy rapidly transcended state boundaries and ignited a fierce political showdown when Jharkhand Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari launched a blistering attack on Nitish Kumar's handling of the situation and extended a high-profile counter-offer to Parveen, promising her an attractive government position within Jharkhand's health department complete with a substantial ₹3 lakh monthly salary and full freedom to choose her preferred posting location.
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