In a video that has since gone viral on social media, the 74-year-old JD(U) leader is seen presenting a certificate to an AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy) doctor, then yanking down her hijab.
The incident took place at the ‘Samvad’ event at the Chief Minister’s secretariat, during a ceremony that distributed appointment letters to over 1,000 newly appointed AYUSH doctors.
As Nusrat Parveen came forward to receive her letter with her face covered, the Chief Minister reached out and asked, “What is this?” before pulling down her hijab and revealing her face.
Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who was present, appeared to reach for the CM’s sleeve in a bid to stop him.
Opposition parties have vehemently criticized the gesture, labeling it “despicable” and demanding Kumar’s resignation.
Sharing the video on social media, RJD questioned if Kumar’s “mental state” has declined to a “pathetic level” or if he has become entirely aligned with Sangh ideology. “What has happened to Nitish ji? Has his mental condition now reached a completely pathetic state or has Nitish Babu now become 100% Sanghi?” the account posted on X.
यह क्या हो गया है नीतीश जी को?
मानसिक स्थिति बिल्कुल ही अब दयनीय स्थिति में पहुंच चुकी है या नीतीश बाबू अब 100% संघी हो चुके हैं?@yadavtejashwi #RJD #bihar #TejashwiYadav pic.twitter.com/vRyqUaKhwm
— Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) December 15, 2025
In response to the incident, RJD Spokesperson Ejaz Ahmad stated that the action reflected the JDU-BJP coalition’s stance towards women.
“By pulling down the hijab of a Muslim woman who adheres to purdah, he (Kumar) has made it evident what kind of politics the JDU and BJP are practicing under the guise of women’s empowerment… Removing a woman’s veil is essentially an infringement on her right to live according to her culture and the religious freedom guaranteed by the Indian Constitution,” he added.
Describing the act as ‘shameless’ and ‘despicable’, Congress also posted the video on X, urging his resignation. “This is Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Observe his shamelessness—a female doctor arrived to collect her appointment letter, only for Nitish Kumar to pull off her hijab. A man in the highest office of Bihar is openly engaging in such a despicable act. Consider this—how safe will women be in the state? Nitish Kumar must resign immediately for this abhorrent behavior. This vileness is unforgivable,” the party stated.
ये बिहार के मुख्यमंत्री नीतीश कुमार हैं।
इनकी बेशर्मी देखिए- एक महिला डॉक्टर जब अपना नियुक्ति पत्र लेने आई तो नीतीश कुमार ने उनका हिजाब खींच लिया।बिहार के सबसे बड़े पद पर बैठा हुआ आदमी सरेआम ऐसी नीच हरकत कर रहा है। सोचिए- राज्य में महिलाएं कितनी सुरक्षित होंगी?
नीतीश कुमार… pic.twitter.com/2AO6czZfAA
— Congress (@INCIndia) December 15, 2025
Shiv Sena UBT leader Priyanka Chaturvedi labeled the act as “public harassment.” On X, she remarked, “This is utterly condemnable; forcefully pulling a woman’s veil down is nothing less than public harassment by an elected CM.”
This is absolutely condemnable and force pulling a woman’s veil down is nothing but public harassment of a woman by the elected CM pic.twitter.com/f5A7vFVY67
— Priyanka Chaturvedi???????? (@priyankac19) December 15, 2025
In another post, she stated, “It is her dignity and understanding of equality that empower her to stand alongside the CM to receive the recognition she deserves.”
In October 2025, prior to the Bihar Assembly elections, a viral video showing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar garlanding a woman at a public meeting triggered significant political discourse regarding his health. Sharing the video, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav wrote, “Ee gajab aadmi hai bhai. If the Chief Minister is in good health, why does he act like this while reading from a prepared speech?”
