MEERUT: In a letter to the EC, BJP state general secretary JSP Rathore has requested poll officials to ensure "proper identity check of 'pardanashin' women (those in purdah/burqa) turning up at voting centres".
He alleged that "women with their face fully covered are involved in bogus voting and this must be checked".
The letter came on the day 55 assembly seats in nine districts of western Uttar Pradesh, most of them minority dominated, went to polls on Monday. “I have reports that today (Monday), many pardanashin women have cast their votes without proper identification at several booths. BJP has requested for proper identity check of such people with EC. I am again requesting you to please ensure identity checks of such people before allowing them to vote,” said Rathore in the letter to EC, a copy of which is with TOI.
Rathore told TOI he "got to know that one person is casting vote multiple times by hiding face". He said: “If someone comes in a burqa or in any form of face covering, how will you check if the same person has voted earlier or not. My letter to EC is for all those who are hiding their faces. Not just women, but men as well.” He added, "Polling should stop at these places until proper identification of such women is done". The BJP also demanded deployment of women constables at all polling booths to keep a close watch on the process. Slamming the letter, Congress's western UP in-charge Dheeraj Gurjar said, “Whenever BJP feels that party is losing ground, they start opting for such cheap theatrics.”
