PATNA: Contrary to the expectations, Ayush doctor Dr Nursat Parveen, who hit the national headlines after Bihar CM Nitish Kumar pulled down her hijab (veil) at an official function in Patna last week, did not join her job on Saturday.

Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan defended CM Kumar, saying that there could never be any conflict between a father and a daughter. “Nitish Kumar is like a father to Nusrat, and it is wrong to label the affection and discipline a father shows towards his daughter as a conflict,” he added. “There are few instances in the past when the health department has given an extension,” he added.

Dr Parveen has been posted at Sabalpur primary health centre (PHC) in Patna Sadar, and was expected to complete the joining formalities by Saturday at 6 pm. However, she failed to report even after the expiry of the deadline.According to the health department’s procedure, Dr Parveen has to go through several formal steps before starting her work. These include a medical examination and verification of documents at the State Health Committee.