A video from a recent appointment ceremony in Bihar has sparked widespread outrage after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was seen pulling down the hijab of a newly appointed AYUSH doctor. The incident, which quickly went viral on social media, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, who described the act as disrespectful and raised concerns about Kumar’s conduct and mental fitness.

The episode took place at the Chief Minister’s secretariat, Samvad, during a function where more than 1,200 doctors from the Ayurveda, Unani, and Homeopathy streams were handed their joining letters. As doctor Nusrat Parveen stepped forward to receive hers, Kumar appeared visibly displeased with her face covering, asked, “What is this?”, and abruptly pulled down her hijab, partially revealing her face. The moment was met with awkward laughter from those present, while Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary attempted to stop Kumar by tugging at his sleeve. Despite this, the interaction was recorded and rapidly circulated online.

Opposition leaders reacted strongly, with the Rashtriya Janata Dal condemning the act as vile and accusing the Chief Minister of violating a woman’s cultural and religious dignity. They also questioned his mental state. The Congress termed the incident shameless and called for Kumar’s resignation, arguing that such behavior sends a dangerous message about women’s safety in the state. Shiv Sena UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi described the episode as public harassment, saying it undermines confidence in those holding positions of power.

Supporters of the Janata Dal United sought to play down the controversy, with one leader claiming the Chief Minister meant no harm and was being misunderstood. However, critics pointed out that the incident adds to a series of past episodes that have raised questions about Kumar’s public conduct, including earlier interactions that had already drawn mockery and concern. As Bihar navigates shifting political alliances after recent elections, the controversy has reignited debates around religious freedom, gender sensitivity, and leadership in Indian politics. No official apology has been issued so far, and the video continues to dominate public discourse.