Voting was halted for a while as a BJP booth agent demanded the removal of the hijab of Muslim women who came to vote in Melur. He was expelled from the polls after protests by other party agents. He was later arrested by the Madurai District Police this evening.
He is being prosecuted under sections of the Indian Penal Code for offenses including obstruction and intimidation of a civil servant. What happened in this? What is the explanation of the BJP agent?
The election for the 8th ward of Melur municipality in Madurai district was held at the Al Amin School polling booth. At the time, the polling was halted for a while due to a tense situation in which BJP polling agent Girirajan got into an argument with the Muslim women who had come there to remove their hijabs and cast their votes.
BJP agent Girirajan stood inside the polling booth and refused to allow women wearing the hijab to cast their ballots, saying, “How can it be acceptable to vote without showing a face to check whether the voter is on the ID card. Vote for the removal of the hijab. Anarchy is going on here. This is unacceptable.”
Following his speech, DMK and AIADMK executives denied him, saying his religious right to wear the hijab should not be questioned.
Later, other parties, including the DMK and AIADMK, protested against the move and said they would leave the polling station.
As a result, the BJP polling agent was expelled from the polling station for speaking in a controversial manner while polling was suspended for a while. Voting then resumed.
Additional police were deployed to guard the polling station at Al-Amin School due to the tense situation.
Voting resumed shortly after Usha was appointed BJP agent to replace him.
“Islamic voters could not be identified because they were wearing the hijab,” Girirajan told reporters after leaving the polling station.
He added, “A 30-year-old man wears a hijab to cast his vote for a 60-year-old voter at a polling station. I identified the removal of the hijab.”
Election officials, meanwhile, said they had confirmed they had seen the hijab being worn.
Commenting on the matter, state election commissioner Palanikumar said, “It is his choice what to wear to the polls. No one can interfere. The BJP booth agent involved has been sacked and another party agent has been appointed. He has been asked to inquire into the matter and report to the district collector.” In Melur, the Collector will investigate and take action against those who came to the polls wearing hijab, ”he said.
“India is a secular country. All voters have the right to practice their religion. By law, anyone can come and vote in any uniform,” he said.
