Muslim women made to lift 'burqua' for verification in UP civic body polls

Muslim women were reportedly made to lift their 'burqa' (veil) for verification at polling booths during the urban local bodies election in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday triggering sharp reactions from Muslim clerics and leaders.

BJP leaders had met state election officials a few days back and had demanded that 'burqa' clad women be verified at polling booths during the polling.

According to the reports lady security personnel at several polling booths in Baghpat, Chandauli, Saharanpur and some other districts asked the women to lift their veils to enable them to match their faces with the identification cards produced by them for the purpose of casting their votes.

Reports said that at some places the Muslim women objected to the orders from the security personnel but the latter did not relent.

Muslim clerics and community leaders sharply criticised the verification process saying that it was not only humiliating but also against the tents of Islam.

''Its very humiliating....it is also against the tenets of Islam,'' said   senior Muslim cleric here.

UP minister and BJP leader Mohsin Raza had earlier said that there was nothing wrong in lifting of the veil for the purpose of verification.

A few days back the police had reportedly forced a Muslim woman to take off her 'burqa' at an election rally addressed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Ballia, about 400 km from here.

The matter had come to light, when some scribes, who were present at the rally, clicked pictures that showed the woman taking off her 'burqa'.