The Ayush doctor at the centre of a controversy involving Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar did not report for her new government posting on Saturday, officials confirmed. Dr. Nusrat Parveen, whose naqab (veil) was removed by the Chief Minister during an appointment letter distribution event, remained absent as the initial deadline passed.
Official Confirmation and Extended Deadline
Patna Civil Surgeon Dr. Avinash Kumar Singh stated that Dr. Parveen did not join duty by 7 pm on Saturday, closing the "possibility window for the day." He revealed that the last date for joining has been extended beyond the original deadline of December 20. However, he did not specify the new cut-off date. Dr. Singh also mentioned he had no direct contact with the doctor or her family to ascertain the exact reason for the delay.
Dr. Vijay Kumar, a surgeon at the Sabalpur Primary Health Centre in Patna Sadar where Dr. Parveen was posted, corroborated the information. "Around five-six people have joined today, and Parveen is not among them," he said. He explained that as per protocol, candidates must first report to the civil surgeon's office in Patna to collect their appointment letter before proceeding to their workplace.
The Incident and Its Aftermath
The incident that sparked a political row occurred on Monday, December 18, at the Chief Minister's secretariat in Patna. A video widely circulated online showed Nitish Kumar noticing Dr. Parveen's naqab as she approached to receive her appointment letter, asking "what is this?" before removing it. The doctor is a second-year student at the Government Tibbi College & Hospital (GTCH) in Patna.
Mahfoozur Rahman, Principal of GTCH, indicated that the deadline was extended in "this special case." He shared insights from the family, stating, "Her family said that they want to escape media coverage, and that the woman doctor will rethink whether to join or not." He dismissed rumours of the family moving to Kolkata due to resentment, quoting Dr. Parveen's husband as saying they are not angry with Nitish Kumar or the government but are "disappointed with the row stirred by the media."
Reactions and Future Uncertainty
Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan expressed his disappointment over the controversy. "It pains me to hear the word 'dispute' in this case. Can there be any row between a father and a daughter?" he questioned reporters in Patna, adding that Kumar considers female students as his daughters.
Principal Rahman asserted that Dr. Parveen has the option to either join her duty or pursue higher education. He noted she last attended college on December 17 or 18. All eyes are now on Monday to see if Dr. Nusrat Parveen will finally assume her role as an Ayush doctor or choose a different path amidst the intense public and media scrutiny surrounding the episode.
