India: Bihar CM removes Muslim doctor's hijab

A video has gone viral on social media showing Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar removing hijab of a Muslim woman doctor at an event on Monday.

The incident took place at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat during a ceremony held to distribute appointment letters to more than 1,000 AYUSH doctors. Officials said that the selected candidates included 685 Ayurvedic doctors, 393 homeopathic practitioners and 205 Unani doctors.

Most of the new doctors received their appointment letters online, while the chief minister handed over letters in person to 10 selected candidates.

When Nusrat Parveen came forward to receive her letter, she had a hijab that covered her face. As she stood before the dais, Nitish Kumar appeared surprised and questioned the face covering before reaching down from the stage and moving the veil away from her face.

The doctor looked uncomfortable after the incident and was swiftly taken aside by an official present at the venue.

Soon after the video surfaced, opposition parties, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress, criticised the chief minister’s conduct. Party leaders shared the clip on social media and termed the act inappropriate and disrespectful.