BJP candidate stirs row after asking Muslim voters to remove niqab, show ID card

HYDERABAD: The BJP candidate contesting from the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat, Madhavi Latha, sparked controversy after a video of her asking Muslim women to remove face veil (niqab) and checking ID cards surfaced on the internet. The BJP candidate can also be heard questioniong the women, “How many years ago did you get this [voter card] made?”

Madhavi Latha also asked for Aadhaar card for additional verification. After the video of the incident went viral, Madhavi Latha defended her actions. “I am not a man, I am a woman and with a lot of humbleness, I have only requested them - can I please see and verify with the ID cards. If somebody wants to make a big issue out of it, that means they are scared,” she said.

After the video went viral, a case was registered against Madhavi Latha at the Malakpet police station. Earlier, the police had registered a case against Madhavi Latha for showing an arrow gesture towards a mosque during her election campaign. Lata is contesting against AIMIM chief and current MP Asaduddin Owaisi and BRS leader Gaddam Srinivas Yadav.