UP bypolls: BJP, SP spar over ID check for Muslim women voters
As voters cast their ballots in the Uttar Pradesh bypolls today for nine Assembly seats, the BJP has raised concerns regarding the identification of voters wearing burqas. In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh, BJP leader Akhilesh Kumar Awasthi called for strict verification of burqa-clad women to prevent any fraudulent voting.
Awasthi highlighted past instances where veiled women, and even some men wearing burqas, had attempted to vote multiple times.
“In some cases, men have donned burqas to cast votes. Poll officials have intercepted these attempts in the past, but if the identity of burqa-clad voters isn’t properly checked, it could lead to fake voting,” the BJP leader warned.
He further emphasized that adequate deployment of female police officers at polling stations is crucial to ensure proper identification.
Meanwhile, the Opposition Samajwadi Party, led by Akhilesh Yadav, flagged concerns about the police checking voter ID cards during the voting process. Yadav shared a video showing two officers requesting voter IDs and demanded the Election Commission’s intervention to ensure that no irregularities occur.
“If the Election Commission is active, it must ensure that the police do not check IDs, roads are not blocked, and voters are not threatened or intimidated,” he said.
Responding to the allegations, Kanpur police announced that the officers involved had been suspended, as the state police fall under the Election Commission’s control during elections.
Yadav urged voters who were prevented from casting their ballots by the police to return to the polling stations and exercise their right to vote. “If you’re stopped, inform the election officials or party representatives. Vote without fear,” he advised.
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