A Muslim woman doctor whose hijab was publicly pulled down by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna earlier this week did not report for her assigned duty on Saturday.
Dr Nusrat Parveen, who hails from Kolkata, was scheduled to report to the Sabalpur Community Health Centre (CHC) under Patna Sadar by 6 pm on Saturday.
Patna Civil Surgeon Dr Avinash Kumar Singh said that the woman doctor could still join duty, subject to approval by the Health Department. He noted that such extensions had been granted earlier as well.
“We are hopeful that she will come and join. The joining date can be extended; it has happened earlier. There are still 12 doctors left, and if the time is extended, it will be extended for everyone. Sixty-three doctors have joined, and 12 are still left,” Dr Singh told ANI.
VIDEO | AIMIM workers staged a protest earlier today over the hijab controversy involving Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 17, 2025
"I demand that a case be registered against Nitish Kumar. He should feel ashamed. He should resign. He should be immediately removed from the post of… pic.twitter.com/IkRhJMP5EK
There were reports that Dr Parveen has declined the government job following the unsavoury incident. “She is determined not to join the service. We are telling her that it is the fault of the other person, so why should she feel bad or suffer because of it?” Parveen’s brother was quoted as saying by eNewsroom.
Parveen was among ten AYUSH doctors who had turned up at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Monday to receive their letters of appointment. When Parveen’s turn came, the 75-year-old chief minister pointed towards her veil (hijab) and exclaimed, “What is this?” before pulling it down and exposing her face.
The incident has drawn criticism from far and wide, including from several West Asian countries, and the JD(U) president is facing accusations of disrespecting Muslim traditions, allegedly in line with an “RSS agenda”.
