Bihar doctor refuses to join duty after CM Nitish Kumar pulls down her hijab during appointment

The doctor whose hijab was publicly pulled down by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar earlier this week did not report for her scheduled duty at Sabalpur Community Health Centre on December 20, sparking fresh controversy and public outrage.

The doctor was required to join by 6 pm, but official sources confirmed she did not appear. Authorities said December 20 was the final deadline for her to report, though an extension could be granted by the Health Department. The doctor has remained silent on the issue.

The incident erupted during the December 15 appointment ceremony when Nitish Kumar, handing over her appointment letter, abruptly pulled down her hijab, asking, “What is this?” Video of the moment quickly went viral, igniting a political firestorm.

Critics from across the political spectrum condemned the Chief Minister’s actions. Jharkhand Health Minister Dr. Irfan Ansari slammed Kumar, offering the doctor a government position in his state with a monthly salary of ₹3 lakh, government housing, and preferred posting. “I am a doctor first, and then a minister. What happened has hurt the entire medical fraternity and sends a dangerous message to India,” Ansari said.

The political fallout intensified with opposition parties like RJD and Congress questioning Kumar’s judgment, while Jammu and Kashmir’s former CM Omar Abdullah voiced sharp criticism. However, the ruling JD(U) defended Nitish, urging people to view the incident in the context of his broader record on women’s and minority rights.

Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan weighed in, describing the incident as a “fatherly gesture” and urging critics to see the CM’s respect for women candidates as akin to that of a father for his daughters.

As the doctor’s absence deepens the controversy, the episode has spotlighted tensions around religious identity, political power, and respect for personal dignity in the state’s public discourse.