‘This is a secular country’: Giriraj Singh says burqa-clad voters should show faces if asked

As the first phase of the Bihar Assembly election began Thursday, Union Minister Giriraj Singh,defended checking of the identity of burqa-clad women and said that “women wearing burqas should show their faces” if polling officials have “doubts about their identity”, describing India as a secular country where Election Commission rules apply equally to all.

Speaking to reporters, Singh said, “This is India. The Election Commission’s rules apply here. When a woman in a burqa goes to get an Aadhaar card made, she lifts it. When she goes to the airport, she lifts it. When she goes to make a reservation or receive government benefits, she lifts it. Is this Pakistan or Bangladesh? This is a secular country. If anyone has doubts here, we will make them show their face.”

Giriraj Singh cast his