SC to Hear Plea Against Assam CM Over 'Shooting' Video, Hate Speech

The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear petitions filed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) and Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Annie Raja, seeking urgent action against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The pleas primarily concern a controversial AI-generated video depicting Sarma symbolically 'shooting' at images of Muslim men, which was posted and subsequently deleted by the Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle around February 7, 2026. Advocate Nizam Pasha, representing the petitioners, mentioned the matter before Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, seeking urgent listing. Pasha highlighted the 'disturbing speeches' made by the sitting Chief Minister, including the recent video where he is shown 'shooting at members of a particular community.' The advocate also noted that despite formal complaints being filed regarding these incidents, no First Information Reports (FIRs) had been registered against the Chief Minister. The video in question combined what appeared to be original footage of CM Sarma handling an air rifle with artificial intelligence-generated images portraying Muslim men as targets. On-screen text accompanying the video included provocative slogans such as 'Foreigner free Assam,' 'No mercy,' 'Why did you not go to Pakistan?,' and 'There is no forgiveness to Bangladeshis.' The video, captioned 'Point blank shot,' sparked widespread outrage and political condemnation for allegedly inciting violence and communal hatred, leading to its eventual deletion by the BJP Assam unit. The petitioners, CPI(M) and Annie Raja, have filed separate writ petitions. They are not only seeking the registration of FIRs against CM Sarma for offenses related to hate speech and communal polarization but also demanding the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) by the Supreme Court to probe the matter. Their contention is that state and central agencies cannot be expected to conduct an independent and impartial inquiry into allegations against a sitting Chief Minister. Beyond the recent video, the petitions also cite a detailed chronology of alleged hate speeches and statements made by Himanta Biswa Sarma from 2021 to February 2026. These statements, according to the petitioners, allegedly call for the social, economic, and civic exclusion of Bengali-origin Muslims, including exhortations to deny them livelihoods, transport, land, and voting rights. The petitions claim that such rhetoric conflates illegal immigration with Muslim identity and has had real-world consequences, with reports of discrimination and harassment being justified by perpetrators as acting on the Chief Minister's directions. Chief Justice Surya Kant, while acknowledging the plea, remarked that 'as and when elections are nearby, political battles are fought in the Supreme Court too.' He added that the court would examine the matter and provide a date for the hearing. Assam Assembly elections are anticipated in March or April 2026, adding a significant political dimension to the legal challenge. This legal development follows a broader outcry, including a complaint filed by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi with Hyderabad police, also seeking criminal action against Sarma over the deleted video, which Owaisi described as 'genocidal hate speech.' The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) also lodged a formal complaint at Dispur Police Station against the BJP for circulating the communally provocative video. The case highlights growing concerns over the misuse of AI-generated content to inflame political and religious tensions, particularly when shared by ruling parties.

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