English
English
English
After a viral moment with the Bihar CM sparked a nationwide hijab debate, a newly appointed woman doctor skipped her joining day. Officials say her deadline is extended but will she join at all? The suspense deepens as silence continues.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar pulls down woman's hijab at an event.
Patna: A newly appointed AYUSH doctor, Nusrat Parveen, who recently came into the spotlight after a controversy involving Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, did not report for duty on Saturday, officials confirmed. Parveen was expected to join at Sabalpur Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Patna Sadar but remained absent till the end of the day.
Patna Civil Surgeon Dr. Avinash Kumar Singh stated that Parveen did not report to his office till 7 pm, after which the joining process for the day was closed. He added that the deadline for joining has reportedly been extended beyond December 20, though the revised date has not been officially specified.
Dr Singh said he was unaware of the reason behind the delay, noting that he had no direct contact with Parveen or her family. As per standard procedure, selected candidates are required to report first to the civil surgeon’s office before being posted to their assigned health centres.
Meanwhile, Vijay Kumar, a surgeon at Sabalpur PHC, confirmed that while several doctors joined on Saturday, Parveen was not among them. He also mentioned that although her name appears on the list of appointees, the PHC has not yet received her appointment letter from the civil surgeon’s office.
The issue stems from an incident earlier this week when Parveen attended a function at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Patna to collect her appointment letter. A video from the event went viral, showing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pulling down her veil while questioning it, exposing her face in public. The footage triggered widespread criticism, with many accusing the Chief Minister of disrespecting religious customs.
“Misinterpreted”: UP minister responds to backlash over Nitish Kumar hijab remark
The incident drew condemnation from various political leaders and social groups, including reactions from abroad. PDP leader Iltija Mufti filed a police complaint, calling the act humiliating and deeply hurtful to Muslim women. Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, however, played down the controversy, saying the Chief Minister views female students as his daughters and questioning the need for a “dispute.”
Mahfoozur Rahman, principal of Government Tibbi College and Hospital, where Parveen is a second-year student, said the family is avoiding media attention and has not yet decided whether she will join duty. He clarified that reports claiming the family had relocated due to resentment were false and added that Parveen’s husband stated they are not angry with the government but disappointed by the media-driven controversy.
Officials now await Parveen’s decision on whether she will report for duty in the coming days.
