Assam BJP Removes Video Showing CM Targeting Muslims After Criticism

The Assam BJP shared a video made with AI that showed Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma aiming a rifle at pictures of Muslims. Many people were very unhappy and said it was wrong. The party later took the video down.
By Newsroom | India, Politics |

The Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) || posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) that used artificial intelligence to show Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma appearing to fire a rifle at framed images of Muslims. The post was || deleted shortly after it ||** generated significant criticism and outrage from opposition parties and others, who labeled the video a "call to genocide" and "performative bloodlust."

Assam BJP posts, then deletes, AI video showing Himanta taking aim at men in skullcaps - 1

Timeline of Events and Key Actors

The sequence of events unfolded rapidly:

  • The Assam BJP || posted the AI-generated video on their official X handle.

  • The video depicted Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, stylized like a cowboy with a rifle, appearing to take aim and fire at photographs of individuals, including what seemed to be Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi and other men wearing skullcaps.

  • Opposition parties, including the Congress and Trinamool Congress, || strongly condemned the video.

  • Critics, such as Congress leader K.C. Venugopal and lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan, || characterized the content as incitement to violence and a "call to genocide."

  • Following the backlash, the Assam BJP || deleted the video from their X account.

Social Media Depiction and Its Implications

The video, approximately 17 seconds long, || combined what appeared to be original footage of Sarma handling rifles with AI-generated imagery. This imagery || portrayed Muslims as targets, a tactic that has raised concerns about the use of technology in political messaging. The content was widely viewed as dehumanizing and a || normalization of hatred against minority communities.

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Opposition's Strong Reaction

The Congress party was particularly vocal in its criticism, with leaders like K.C. Venugopal and Assam Congress leader Mira Borthakur demanding accountability.

Assam BJP posts, then deletes, AI video showing Himanta taking aim at men in skullcaps - 3

  • K.C. Venugopal posted on X, || stating the video amounted to a "call to genocide" and urged the judiciary to take action. He drew a parallel, suggesting that if an opposition functionary posted such content, they would face legal action under the UAPA.

  • Mira Borthakur Goswami, President of the Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress, called for an || FIR against the BJP over the video.

  • Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi also commented on the controversy, questioning the Chief Minister's credibility.

Nature of the Visual Content

The AI-generated video depicted Sarma in a "point-blank" shooting scenario. The choice of imagery || has been described as "performative bloodlust" and "televised dehumanisation of Muslims." The visual portrayal itself, rather than just spoken words or policy, is seen by critics as elevating the concern about || harmful political messaging.

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Context of Previous Statements

The posting of the video occurred against a backdrop of || Sarma's public remarks targeting Bengali-origin Muslims in Assam. Earlier, || Sarma had led a campaign against Congress president Gaurav Gogoi regarding alleged links to Pakistan. Furthermore, Sarma had noted that BJP workers had filed numerous complaints against suspected foreigners during a special revision period.

The controversy has drawn commentary from legal experts and commentators who highlight the broader implications for political communication.

  • Lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan suggested the || Supreme Court should take suo-motu cognizance of the video.

  • The incident is seen by some as a "flashpoint in debates over political messaging, communal tensions and || institutional accountability in modern India."

  • There is mention of public interest litigations seeking clearer guidelines on political social media content, indicating a broader legal and regulatory concern.

Conclusion: A Signal of Escalating Digital Political Tactics

The Assam BJP's decision to || post and then delete the AI-generated video signifies a complex intersection of political strategy, technological deployment, and community relations in India. The widespread condemnation and calls for legal action underscore the || significant implications of using AI for potentially divisive political messaging. The incident raises profound questions about the boundaries of acceptable political discourse in the digital age and the responsibility of political parties in shaping public perception, particularly concerning minority groups. The focus on visual, AI-driven content represents an || evolving tactic in political communication that carries substantial risks of exacerbating social tensions and attracting severe public and judicial scrutiny.

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Sources Used:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What did the Assam BJP post online?
They posted a video made with AI that showed Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma aiming a rifle at pictures of Muslims.
Q: Why did they remove the video?
Many people were very angry and criticized the video, calling it hateful. The party removed it after the criticism.
Q: What did people say about the video?
Critics said the video was a call to violence and was very bad. They were upset that it showed Muslims as targets.