Congress Condemns Assam BJP's 'Point-Blank Shot' Video Against Minorities
The Congress party has severely criticized the Assam BJP over a now-deleted video posted on its official X handle, which allegedly depicted Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma symbolically firing at individuals identified as minorities. Opposition leaders, including Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, termed it a "call to genocide" and demanded immediate judicial action.
Key Highlights
- Assam BJP posted a controversial 'point-blank shot' video.
- Video depicted CM Himanta Biswa Sarma targeting minorities.
- Congress leaders condemned the video as a 'call to genocide'.
- The controversial video was subsequently deleted from X (formerly Twitter).
- Opposition demands strict judicial action against those responsible.
- The incident sparked widespread outrage and allegations of communal hatred.
The Indian National Congress has strongly condemned the Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following the circulation of a highly controversial video on the latter's official X (formerly Twitter) handle. The now-deleted video, titled 'point-blank shot,' purportedly showed Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma aiming a rifle and firing at two individuals. These individuals were depicted with distinct markers of Muslim identity – one wearing a skull cap and the other with a beard – leading to widespread accusations that the video was a direct incitement to violence against minorities.
The video's content was particularly inflammatory, combining actual footage of CM Sarma handling an air rifle with AI-generated visuals of bullets striking the symbolic representations of Muslim men. Accompanying text in the video reportedly included phrases like 'foreigner free Assam,' 'No mercy,' 'Why did you not go to Pakistan?', and 'There is no forgiveness to Bangladeshis.' Critics argue that these messages, coupled with the imagery, overtly promoted communal hatred and targeted Bengali-origin Muslims in the state, against a backdrop of existing tensions over immigration rhetoric.
Reacting sharply to the video, Congress General Secretary in charge of organisation, K.C. Venugopal, unequivocally slammed the BJP, stating that an 'official BJP handle posted a video showing the targeted, 'point-blank' murder of minorities.' He characterized the video as 'nothing but a call to genocide – a dream this fascist regime has harboured for decades.' Venugopal further emphasized the gravity of the situation, asserting that this was not mere 'troll content' but 'poison spread from the very top,' demanding consequences. He expressed little hope for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to condemn or act against the video but urged the judiciary to intervene without any leniency.
Congress spokespersons Supriya Shrinate and Shama Mohammed echoed Venugopal's sentiments. Shrinate labelled the BJP as 'mass murderers' and questioned the silence of the courts and other institutions. Mohammed specifically called out Prime Minister Modi, highlighting the inconsistency between his 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' (Together, for everyone's growth, with everyone's trust) slogan and the actions of a leader like Himanta Biswa Sarma. She stated that such a video constituted 'an attack on the Indian Constitution' and expressed shock at the Supreme Court's perceived inaction. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also joined the chorus of condemnation, noting that despite its deletion, the video had been widely downloaded and disseminated, criticizing the Election Commission's perceived inaction.
The video was swiftly deleted from the Assam BJP's X handle following the intense backlash, but its content and the strong reactions it elicited have intensified the debate around political rhetoric, communal polarization, and the use of social media for potentially inflammatory campaigns in India. This incident comes in the context of previous controversies involving AI-generated videos by the Assam BJP. For instance, in September 2025, the party's unit faced criticism and an FIR from the Congress for an AI-generated video depicting a 'Muslim takeover' of Assam if the BJP were not in power, which also led to a Supreme Court notice to X and the Assam BJP unit. While the BJP had defended the earlier videos as highlighting the threat of illegal immigrants and demographic change, the 'point-blank shot' video is seen as a more direct and aggressive portrayal of violence.
The widespread condemnation underscores significant concerns regarding the misuse of digital platforms and AI technology to spread hate speech and incite communal disharmony, particularly from official political party handles. The demands for judicial intervention reflect a plea for accountability and the upholding of secular values enshrined in the Indian Constitution. The incident remains a significant point of contention in India's political landscape, especially concerning the treatment of minority communities and the tone of political discourse leading up to elections.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the controversial 'point-blank shot' video about?
The video, posted by the Assam BJP's official X handle, allegedly showed Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma aiming and firing a rifle at symbolic representations of individuals identified as minorities (men with skull caps and beards). It included inflammatory captions and AI-generated visuals.
Why did the Congress party condemn the video?
The Congress party condemned the video as a 'call to genocide' and an incitement to violence against minorities. Leaders like K.C. Venugopal stated it promoted communal hatred and demanded judicial action against those responsible.
Has the video been removed?
Yes, the controversial 'point-blank shot' video was deleted from the Assam BJP's official X handle following widespread outrage and condemnation from opposition parties and activists.
What were the demands made by the opposition regarding this incident?
Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, demanded immediate and strict judicial action against the Assam BJP and those responsible for creating and posting the video. They emphasized that merely deleting the video was not sufficient.
Is this the first time Assam BJP has faced controversy over social media videos?
No, the Assam BJP unit previously faced criticism and legal action in September 2025 over an AI-generated video that depicted a hypothetical 'Muslim takeover' of Assam if the BJP was not in power. This earlier video also sparked allegations of communal polarization.