Hyderabad: Videos have emerged showing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates engaging in controversial behavior, where they were seen demanding that burqa-clad Muslim women remove their veils during the fourth phase of general elections in Telangana, India.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the actions of the BJP candidates drew widespread condemnation, forcing the Election Commission of India to take notice and initiate an action.
The Election Commission took action against Madhavi Latha, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominee in Hyderabad, after she was caught on camera demanding burqa-clad Muslim women to remove their veils during polling in the fourth phase of the general elections.
In separate incidents, Dharampuri Arvind, the BJP candidate in Nizamabad, and Madhavi Latha in Hyderabad were filmed demanding Muslim women to unveil themselves to prove their identities. Arvind even questioned Election Commission officials about allowing Muslim women to vote while a video of him threatening poll officials inside a booth went viral.
The actions of the BJP candidates have sparked outrage, with journalist Revathi criticizing Arvind’s remarks as “primordial rhetoric” and emphasizing the importance of women’s clothing choices.
Women activist Khalid Parveen condemned the candidates’ actions, stating that it’s the responsibility of female officials to verify the identities of female voters, not the candidates’.
Former president of All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM), Navaid Hamid, accused the BJP candidates of intimidating Muslim voters and criticized the Election Commission for allegedly allowing such incidents to occur, potentially lowering the voter turnout among Muslims.
Responding to the incident, Hyderabad Collector announced that a case has been registered against Madhavi Latha under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Representation of the People Act.
