Copyright indiatoday
This special report focuses on the controversy surrounding the verification of burqa-clad women voters during the first phase of the Bihar assembly elections. The issue has ignited a political firestorm, pitting the BJP against the RJD, with key figures like Union Minister Giriraj Singh and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi trading barbs. As one woman in Mokama told India Today, 'It is not necessary to remove the burqa, you can check it with your finger if you doubt it.' While some voters objected to the Election Commission's directive, others in Darbhanga welcomed the move. The debate intensified after RJD workers accused Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey of pushing for these checks, a claim he denied. Union Minister Giriraj Singh further stoked the controversy by stating that Sharia law would not be implemented in Bihar, drawing a sharp rebuke from RJD's Rabri Devi, who accused the BJP of communalising the electorate.
