Bihar Health Minister says unaware of AYUSH doctor refusing duty amid Hijab row
Patna: Amid the ongoing controversy over the incident in which Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was seen publicly removing the veil of a newly recruited AYUSH doctor, Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey on Thursday said he was not aware of reports that the female doctor had refused to join duty.
The senior BJP leader, however, sought to put a lid on the controversy by asserting that the ruling NDA in the state has always worked for the empowerment of women (Matri Shakti).
"I have no such information", was the terse reply of Pandey, whom journalists asked about reports that the Ayush doctor, who hails from Kolkata, has declined the government job following the unsavoury incident that took place earlier this week, according to news agency PTI.
Also Read:Video of Bihar CM pulling down hijab of AYUSH doctor sparks political row
A section of the media had on Wednesday reported that she had declined the job.
She was among the ten Ayush doctors who had turned up at the Chief Minister's Secretariat on Monday to receive their appointment letters. When her turn came, the 75-year-old CM pointed towards her veil (Hijab) and exclaimed 'what is this' before pulling it down and revealing her face.
Medical Dialogues recently reported that Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President, Mehbooba Mufti, and National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, have strongly criticised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, demanding an unconditional apology over the controversial hijab incident. Mehbooba Mufti criticised Nitish Kumar sharply over a controversial incident in which he was seen pulling down the hijab of a young AYUSH doctor while receiving an appointment letter.
The incident has drawn criticism from far and wide, including many West Asian countries, and the JD (U) president is facing accusations of disrespecting Muslim traditions, allegedly in line with 'RSS agenda'.
However, Pandey insisted, "Women have always been respected by our CM, who has made huge efforts for the empowerment of Matri Shakti".
