Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is facing criticism from opposition parties after an incident at an official event in which he allegedly removed the hijab of a Muslim woman doctor, prompting demands for his resignation.

The incident took place on Monday during a ceremony at the Chief Minister’s Office in Patna, where appointment letters were being distributed to newly recruited doctors.

Opposition leaders said the chief minister’s actions violated the woman’s dignity and her right to follow religious practices.

The Indian National Congress said Kumar should resign, calling the incident unacceptable and accusing him of disrespecting women and religious freedom.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), another opposition party, also criticised the chief minister, saying the Constitution guarantees citizens the freedom to practise their religion.

Photographs from the event were later shared on Kumar’s official social media account, though the woman involved in the incident does not appear in the images.

Kumar, a veteran politician and president of the Janata Dal (United), has previously been involved in public controversies.

Opposition parties have often cited incidents involving his conduct at official functions, including behaviour that they described as inappropriate or undignified.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which supports Kumar’s government in Bihar, rejected the opposition’s accusations. In a statement, the BJP accused its rivals of double standards and said it remained committed to protecting women’s dignity and promoting their empowerment in the state.

The controversy has drawn widespread attention on social media and added to political tensions in Bihar, where alliances have frequently shifted in recent years.

Kumar, one of India’s longest-serving state chief ministers, returned to power last year after rejoining the BJP-led alliance, ending a previous partnership with opposition parties.

There was no immediate response from Kumar’s office regarding the incident or the opposition’s demand for his resignation.