A controversy has erupted in Jharkhand following remarks made by Health Minister Irfan Ansari regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. Ansari's comments, which included a suggestion to "lock up" polling officials, have sparked outrage and accusations of obstructing the election process.
Ansari's statements were made during a public gathering, where he voiced concerns about the SIR process, which is currently underway in 12 states and Union Territories. He alleged that the BJP is using the revision to remove eligible voters from the electoral rolls, branding them as "infiltrators". Specifically, he claimed that in Bihar, a similar exercise led to the deletion of 65 lakh names from the voter list. However, the Election Commission of India (ECI) stated the total exclusion stood at 42 lakhs and not 65 lakh in the final roll.
In a video that has circulated widely, Ansari is heard telling people that the SIR is meant to cut names from voter rolls and Aadhaar cards, which could lead to the loss of bank accounts. He then went on to say that if any Booth Level Officer (BLO) visits their house for SIR-related duties, they should "lock them inside" and report to him. "Everyone should protest against SIR. If the BLO comes to your house, lock them inside. The BLO is coming to delete names from the voter list. Lock him inside the house and release him after I arrive," he reportedly said.
The minister has since defended his remarks, stating that they were taken out of context. According to The Statesman, Ansari clarified that he was referring to the stress and pressure faced by field officers. “BLOs are often pushed so hard that some reach a point of breakdown. My point was about their safety. If a BLO is under distress, keep them secure. I will come myself, help them out and ensure their mental well-being,” he said. He also claimed that his warning was aimed at safeguarding vulnerable families who lack essential documents, such as land papers and Aadhaar cards, who he believes are at the highest risk of exclusion during SIR-related verification. "People in rural areas don't always have documents. If they are called repeatedly and still can't produce papers, getting their names added back becomes difficult. They may end up cut off from key services,” he stated.
Ansari further accused the BJP of using revision exercises in other states to target certain communities, alleging that in Bihar "65 lakh names were removed and 22 lakh new names were added," raising concerns about identity and citizenship for large groups of people. He stated that his views were his personal assessment and that the Congress party shares similar concerns and does not support removing names from electoral rolls. “Our approach is to include people, not exclude them,” he said.
The BJP has strongly criticized Ansari's comments, with BJP National Spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain calling for a case to be filed against the Jharkhand Minister. Hussain described Ansari's statement as "highly irresponsible" and that action should be taken against him for obstructing the SIR process. The BJP also accused Ansari of making baseless claims without properly understanding SIR, and attempting to stay in the headlines.
The Election Commission has yet to respond to the controversy. The SIR has a deadline to fill the enumeration form by December 4, 2025.
