Bihar Doctor Whose Niqab Was Pulled Down by CM Nitish Kumar Does Not Join Duty

A woman doctor whose niqab was pulled down by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at a government event earlier this month did not join duty on Saturday, amid continuing political outrage over the incident,

reports PTI. The doctor, Nusrat Parveen, was among newly recruited AYUSH practitioners who were issued appointment letters at a programme held at the chief minister’s secretariat in Patna on December 15. During the event, Kumar briefly pulled down Parveen’s niqab, an act that was captured on video and later circulated widely on social media.The footage sparked sharp criticism from opposition parties and civil rights groups, with several leaders accusing the chief minister of violating the woman’s dignity. Peoples Democratic Party leader Iltija Mufti also filed a police complaint against Kumar in Srinagar following the incident.

Amid the controversy, Parveen did not report for duty at the Sabalpur public health centre in Patna Sadar, where she was scheduled to join. Patna Civil Surgeon Avinash Kumar Singh said she did not join work until 7 pm on Saturday, after which the joining window for the day was closed.“I have been informed that the last date of joining has been extended beyond December 20,” Singh said, adding that it remains to be seen whether Parveen joins duty on Monday.Vijay Kumar, a surgeon at the Sabalpur public health centre, also confirmed that Parveen had not joined. “Around five or six people have joined today, and Parveen is not among them,” he said. “Her name is on the list, but we have not received her appointment letter from the civil surgeon’s office.”The incident has also drawn attention beyond Bihar. Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari offered Parveen a government job in his state, with a proposed monthly salary of Rs 3 lakh, government accommodation and a preferred posting, according to media reports.Human rights group Amnesty International condemned the chief minister’s action, calling it an assault on the woman’s dignity, autonomy and identity. The organisation said that when a public official forcibly removes a woman’s veil, it risks normalising such behaviour and sending a troubling message to society.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyRltAeDjBg

Meanwhile, Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey had earlier said he was not aware of reports that a female doctor had refused to join duty. The senior BJP leader, however, sought to put a lid on the controversy by asserting that the ruling NDA in the state has always worked for empowerment of women (Matri Shakti)."I have no such information", was the terse reply of Pandey, whom journalists asked about reports that the Ayush doctor Nusrat Parveen, who hails from Kolkata, has declined the government job following the unsavoury incident that took place earlier this week.