'Scared Muslim voters by removing their veils': Samajwadi Party writes to UP CEO ahead of bypolls; BJP hits back

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 misusing their authority during the Lok Sabha elections by forcing Muslim women voters to remove their veils. He said that this caused many women to leave polling stations without casting their votes. He argued that voter verification is the sole responsibility of polling officers, not police personnel.

Pal further claimed that in constituencies with upcoming by-polls, Booth Level Officers had failed to distribute voter slips in areas with significant Muslim populations, leaving many unaware of their polling details.

"Many of them left the polling stations without casting their votes. A significant number of SP supporters returned without exercising their voting rights, which affected the election and led to a decline in voter turnout at polling stations," the SP leader said.

"A large number of voters are unaware of their booth numbers and voter serial numbers, which is impacting the election. The 100% distribution of voter slips must be ensured so that voters are not deprived of their right to vote," he added.

Following Pal's allegations Congress and BJP traded barbs with the grand old party backing SP's claims, while the BJP has said that is a "legal right" of polling officials.

Congress backs SP

Backing Pal's letter, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari accused authorities of trying to scare minority voters, saying, “Samajwadi Party has expressed the apprehension that there should be no hindrance in the voting of veiled women."

He called for maximum participation from women, especially from backward classes and minority communities, and demanded strict adherence to election protocols barring police from checking voter IDs.

"ECI should ensure that even if there are women from backward classes or minority communities, their number of votes should be maximum. The Election Commission has issued a line that no police personnel should check anyone's ID card, this should be followed completely," the Congress MP said.

'Legal right to remove veils': Giriraj Singh

Responding to these claims, Union minister Giriraj Singh dismissed the SP’s claims, arguing that removing veils for voter identification is legally correct. “I appeal to all the electoral officers and NDA's polling agents in Jharkhand and Maharashtra that vote jihad should not be allowed on the basis of religion and they should remove the veils and check the voters. It is legally right to remove the veils and see their faces,” the Union minister said.

Nine constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, including Karhal, Ghaziabad, and Phulpur, are set to vote on November 20, with results to be declared on November 23.