In a significant development following a controversial incident involving Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the Jharkhand government has stepped in with a lucrative job offer for the woman doctor at the center of the row. Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari on Saturday extended an invitation to the doctor from Bihar, promising a government position with a substantial salary and benefits.
Jharkhand's Lucrative Offer to the Doctor
Irfan Ansari stated that the offer includes a monthly salary of Rs 3 lakh, a government flat, a posting of her choice, and full security. The minister made this announcement in direct response to the incident that occurred earlier in the week in Patna. "I have invited the woman doctor to Jharkhand and offered her a job with Rs 3 lakh monthly salary, a flat, desired posting and full security," Ansari was quoted as saying by PTI.
The Incident That Sparked the Controversy
The event that triggered this political reaction took place on Monday at the chief minister’s secretariat in Patna. It was during a ceremony for the distribution of appointment letters to Ayush doctors. A widely circulated video from the event shows Nitish Kumar noticing the doctor's hijab, uttering "what is this?", and subsequently removing the veil from her head. The footage quickly went viral online, igniting a major political debate and accusations of indecency.
Political Condemnation and Legal Action
Slamming Nitish Kumar for his actions, Minister Irfan Ansari termed the episode an attack on fundamental dignity. "The way a doctor and a woman was humiliated and treated with indecency by pulling her hijab is not merely an attack on one individual but a direct assault on human dignity, honour and the Constitution itself," he asserted.
Meanwhile, the incident has also led to legal repercussions. A social worker, Mohammad Murtaza Alam, along with villagers, filed a formal police complaint against the Bihar Chief Minister. The complaint was submitted at the Itki police station on Thursday, adding a legal dimension to the growing political controversy.
The offer from the Jharkhand government highlights the interstate political ramifications of the event, turning a moment of personal humiliation for the doctor into a national discourse on dignity, religious expression, and the conduct of public officials.
