A major political and social controversy has emerged in India after a viral video allegedly showed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pulling down a Muslim woman doctor’s hijab during a public event, sparking outrage and legal action.

The video, which circulated widely on social media platforms, appears to show the 75-year-old Bihar Chief Minister reaching forward and removing the headscarf of a female doctor while distributing appointment letters at a government function in Patna. Opposition leaders and civil society activists say the incident violates personal dignity, cultural autonomy, and religious freedom.

According to reports, the event was held to hand over appointment letters to newly recruited AYUSH doctors practitioners of traditional Indian systems of medicine, including Ayurvedic, Unani, Homeopathy, and others. When the doctor approached the stage wearing a hijab, the chief minister was seen asking, “What is this?” before pulling down her veil, a moment that left many observers shocked and uncomfortable.

In response to the footage, Samajwadi Party leader Sumaiya Rana filed a formal complaint at Kaiserbagh Police Station in Lucknow, naming both Nitish Kumar and Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Sanjay Nishad. The complaint demands strict legal action, alleging that the act amounted to unwelcome physical contact and an infringement on the woman’s dignity and constitutional rights.

Rana also cited controversial remarks attributed to Minister Sanjay Nishad, who reportedly downplayed the incident by questioning why it was being politicized and suggesting that the chief minister’s hand “only touched her face.” Such comments have themselves triggered further criticism and accusations of insensitivity.

The incident has drawn rapid condemnation from a wide range of voices. Amnesty International India released a statement describing the act as an “assault on a woman’s dignity, autonomy, and identity,” warning that the forced removal of a hijab by a public official could send dangerous social signals and deepen fear among minority communities.

Prominent public figures have also weighed in. Former Bollywood actor Zaira Wasim took to social media to demand an “unconditional apology” from the chief minister, saying that women’s dignity should never be treated as a public spectacle.

Political parties and activists in Kashmir and across India have joined the chorus of criticism, calling the act disrespectful and demanding accountability. Some opposition leaders have questioned the conduct and fitness of a sitting chief minister engaging in such behaviour at a ceremonial event.

However, supporters and party allies of Nitish Kumar have attempted to downplay the controversy, characterizing the gesture as a misunderstanding or a benign oversight, while accusing the opposition of politicizing the matter.

As legal proceedings begin and political debate intensifies, the incident has reignited broader discussions in India about consent, cultural sensitivity, public conduct by elected officials, and the protection of individual rights in a diverse society.