Nitish Kumar removes hijab of AYUSH doctor at public event; Opposition questions his mental state

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar stirred a major controversy on Monday after he pulled down the hijab (veil) of a newly recruited AYUSH doctor during a public event, an incident that has since gone viral via a purported video clip. The incident occurred at the CM’s secretariat, ‘Samvad,’ during a ceremony where appointment letters were being distributed to more than 1,000 AYUSH doctors. The Chief Minister's action immediately drew sharp criticism and scrutiny from rival political parties.

Opposition parties, including the RJD and the Congress, quickly seized on the viral video, sharing it widely on their social media accounts. They claimed the incident was the latest evidence of the JD(U) president's alleged “unstable mental health.” RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari condemned the conduct, stating that such incidents show Nitish Kumar is "not in control" and that "attempting to remove the hijab of a woman is surely not in good taste."

In a strong defense of the Chief Minister, JD(U) chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar downplayed the incident. He urged the public to consider the CM's extensive record of work for women empowerment and minority welfare, arguing that a single "stray visual image should not be played up unnecessarily by the Opposition." The controversy has nonetheless escalated the political debate surrounding Nitish Kumar's public conduct and has put the JD(U) on the defensive.