Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has sparked a political storm after a video from a government function in Patna showed him pulling down the hijab of a woman doctor while handing her a certificate.

The clip, widely shared online, appears to show Kumar presenting a document to an AYUSH doctor and gesturing for her to remove her hijab. Before she could respond, he reaches out and pulls it down, briefly exposing her mouth and chin. In the background, some attendees are seen laughing, while Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary appears to step in as if to stop Kumar.

Opposition attacks, Congress demands resignation

The incident triggered sharp reactions from the Opposition. The Congress described Kumar’s action as “shameless” and “vile,” and said he should step down as chief minister.

The RJD also condemned the act, with party leaders and spokespersons alleging it reflected the ruling alliance’s attitude towards women and questioning Kumar’s fitness to hold office. Their statements framed the episode as an intrusion into personal and religious choice.

Past controversies cited again

The row has revived earlier criticism of Kumar’s public conduct. Before the Bihar elections last month, he faced backlash over another viral video from a public event involving a woman participant. Around the same time, Prashant Kishor and other leaders had made public remarks questioning Kumar’s health and ability to govern—comments Kishor later reiterated in a media interview after the elections.

The Bihar government has not issued a detailed statement in the text provided, but the video continues to draw reactions across party lines as it circulates online.

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