As the first phase of the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 unfolded on Thursday, Union Minister Giriraj Singh triggered a political storm with remarks urging strict identity verification of burqa-clad women voters to prevent electoral fraud. His comments, made after casting his vote, quickly went viral and drew criticism for allegedly targeting a specific community.
Speaking to reporters outside a polling booth, the Begusarai MP questioned the Election Commission’s monitoring procedures and emphasized that India’s secular framework must be upheld. “This is India — the Election Commission’s rules apply here, right? When a woman in a burqa goes to get an Aadhaar card made, doesn’t she lift it? When she goes to the airport or collects government benefits, doesn’t she lift it? Is this Pakistan or Bangladesh? Is this an Islamic country or a secular country? This is a secular country. If anyone has doubts, we will ask them to show their face,” he said.
Singh further argued that identity checks were essential to ensure fair and transparent polling, drawing parallels with verification procedures followed during Aadhaar enrollment, airport security, and bank transactions.
However, his statement immediately sparked criticism from political rivals and allies alike. Union Minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan distanced himself from the remarks, calling them “unnecessary” and warning against communalising the electoral process.
“This is unnecessarily trying to create a Hindu-Muslim issue,” Paswan said, urging political leaders to maintain restraint during the polling period.
Focusing on voter participation instead, Paswan appealed to citizens to come out in large numbers. “I urge everyone to exercise their right to vote. It would be great if Bihar witnesses record voting in the first phase today,” he added.
Meanwhile, responding to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s recent ‘vote theft’ allegations, Paswan said the opposition should pursue the matter legally if they believe their evidence is strong. “If the Congress truly trusts its claims, it should move the court instead of continuously attacking the Election Commission. When they complain, the ECI initiates a special inquiry report (SIR), yet they still express dissatisfaction. If they have confidence in their findings, the court is the right place,” Paswan remarked.
