Jharkhand Congress leader and Health Minister Irfan Ansari made news last Sunday after a video went viral showing him as telling people to “lock up and tie” Booth-level Officers (BLOs) if they visit their homes to seek information related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Ansari is known for “speaking his mind” and often referred to as a “loudmouth” within Congress circles.

In the video, Ansari is heard purportedly telling a gathering, “The BJP is trying to remove your names from the voter lists… If BLOs come to your houses, lock them up and tie them. I will come and set them free.”

He said that the recent SIR in Bihar led to the deletion of 65 lakh voters, which he alleged affected the Mahagathbandhan’s prospects in 80 of the 243 seats in the recent Assembly elections there.

Ansari claimed his remarks were “misreported and misinterpreted”. “I was only referring to fake BLOs who are extorting money from residents in interior areas. I had no intention of inciting people against genuine election staff,” he said.