‘Scaring Muslim voters by removing their veils’: Samajwadi Party writes to UP CEO ahead of polls; BJP strikes back – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh Samajwadi Party chief Shyam Lal Pal on Tuesday wrote a letter to the state’s chief electoral officer, accusing the police of abusing their authority during the Lok Sabha elections by targeting Muslim women voters. force them to take off their veils. He said this led to many women leaving polling stations without casting their votes. He submitted that voter verification is solely the responsibility of the polling stations and not of the police personnel.
Pal further alleged that in constituencies with upcoming by-polls, the Booth Level Officers had failed to distribute voter slips in areas with significant Muslim populations, leaving many unaware of the details of their polls.
“Many of them left the polling stations without casting their votes. A significant number of SP supporters returned without exercising their right to vote, which affected the elections and led to a drop in voter turnout,” the SP leader said.
“A large number of voters are unaware of their booth numbers and voter serial numbers, which affects the elections. The 100% distribution of voter slips must be ensured so that voters are not disenfranchised,” he added.
Following Pal’s allegations, the Congress and the BJP exchanged words with the grand old party backing the SP’s claims, while the BJP has said this is a “legal right” of poll workers.
Congress supports the SP
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari supported Pal’s letter and accused the authorities of trying to scare minority voters, saying: “The Samajwadi Party has expressed apprehension that there should be no barrier in the voting of veiled women.”
He called for maximum participation of women, especially from backward classes and minority communities, and demanded strict compliance with election protocols that ban police from checking voters’ identities.
“ECI must ensure that even if there are women from backward classes or minority communities, their vote share should be maximum. The Election Commission has issued a rule that no police personnel should check anyone’s identity card, this should be fully followed,” the Congressman said.
‘Legal right to remove veils’: Giriraj Singh
Reacting to these claims, Minister Giriraj Singh dismissed the SP’s claims, arguing that removing veils for voter identification is legally correct. “I appeal to all NDA election officials and polling agents in Jharkhand and Maharashtra that voting for jihad should not be allowed on the basis of religion and they should remove the veils and verify the voters. It is legally correct to remove the veils and see their faces,” the Union minister said.
Nine constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, including Karhal, Ghaziabad and Phulpur, will vote on November 20, and the results will be declared on November 23.