Madhavi Lata, BJP candidate from Hyderabad, checks Muslim women voters’ identity by removing burqa

Case registered against Madhavi Lata

Hyderabad (Telangana) – BJP candidate from Hyderabad, Madhavi Lata, asked the identity cards of some burqa clad Muslim women voters at a polling station. She removed the burqa from their face and verified with the photograph on the ballot paper. This has led to a controversy after its video became viral on social media. A case has been registered against Madhavi Lata in Malakpet Police station. The Collector said that a case has been registered against Madhavi Lata under Sections 171c, 186, 505(1)(c) and Section 132 of the Representation of the People Act.

BJP candidate Madhavi Latha asks women Mu$l!m voters to lift veil to check their identity; Case registered

📍Bhagyanagar, Telangana

I have the right to check the IDs – Madhavi Latha

Mu$l!m women wear Burqa and engage in fraudulent voting – MLA @TigerRajaSingh

Mu$l!m women… pic.twitter.com/8hFZoLF6ql

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) May 13, 2024

I have the right to check identity cards : Madhavi Lata

About this matter, Madhavi Lata said that since she is a candidate herself, as per the law, she has the right to check the identity cards. She added, “I am not a man, I am a woman and with the utmost humility I requested Muslim women to remove burqa. If opponents are making a big deal out of this incident, it means they are scared.”

Bogus voting is done by burqa clad Muslim women : MLA T Raja Singh

“A burqa clad Muslim woman votes more than 20 times. This happens in every election,” said T Raja Singh, MLA from Goshamahal.

Editorial Perspective

Muslim women always oppose face verification with ID card while voting. Not being able to verify the person inside burqa, there is a high chance of bogus voting. Now if the candidate herself is verifying it, how can she be blamed ? Why does the Election Commission not understand this ?