Opposition Targets BJP After Now-Deleted ‘Point-Blank Shot’ Video Featuring Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

A political storm erupted on Sunday after a video shared from the official social media handle of the Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appeared to show Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma engaging in symbolic violence against Muslims. The video, which was later deleted amid mounting backlash, triggered condemnation across the political spectrum and renewed concerns over the normalization of communal rhetoric.

The now-removed clip portrayed Sarma firing what appeared to be an air weapon, intercut with Artificial Intelligence–generated visuals of bullets striking men wearing beards and skull caps—imagery widely recognized as associated with Muslim identity. The video was overlaid with aggressive slogans such as “foreigner free Assam” and “No mercy,” language that opposition parties described as openly sectarian and inflammatory.

Adding to the controversy, Assamese text embedded in the video allegedly read, “Why did you not go to Pakistan?” and “There is no forgiveness for Bangladeshis.” In several frames, the Chief Minister was stylized as a Western movie-style action hero. The timing of the post further intensified criticism, as it surfaced amid heightened political rhetoric in Assam targeting Bengali-origin Muslims.

Opposition Alleges Incitement, Demands Accountability

The Congress party strongly condemned the video, calling it “deeply disturbing” and rejecting any attempt to dismiss it as unofficial or troll-generated content. The party emphasized that the clip originated from the Assam BJP’s verified account, making it a matter of institutional responsibility.

“A video that appears to glorify the targeted, point-blank killing of minorities was shared by the BJP’s official Assam Pradesh handle,” the Congress said in a statement. “This constitutes a direct call for mass violence and genocide.” The party expressed skepticism over executive intervention and urged judicial authorities to take suo motu cognizance.

Congress general secretary K C Venugopal echoed these concerns, describing the video as “poison that flows from the very top.” Party spokesperson and chair of the social media and digital platforms department, Supriya Shrinate, said that deleting the post was “grossly inadequate” and questioned whether constitutional institutions were failing in their duty.

“It is not enough to take down a video that depicts Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shooting Muslim men under the tagline ‘POINT BLANK SHOT.’ This exposes the true face of the BJP,” Shrinate wrote on X, calling for immediate legal scrutiny.

Trinamool Congress and Others Escalate Criticism

The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) Assam unit also weighed in, accusing the ruling party of institutionalizing hate. In a sharply worded statement, the party described the video as “performative bloodlust” and warned that such content amounted to “state-enabled radicalization.”

“To imagine an elected Chief Minister miming point-blank shooting at Muslims in a party video is obscene and alarming,” the TMC said, adding that the clip’s removal did little to undo the damage already caused.

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose went a step further, arguing that the video constituted a criminal offense. In a post on X, she alleged violations under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and suggested that the content could attract provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). “Deleting the ad does not erase the crime,” she wrote, calling for exemplary punishment.

Gaurav Gogoi Questions CM’s Credibility

Congress MP from Assam, Gaurav Gogoi, also launched a scathing attack on the Chief Minister following a prolonged press conference held by Sarma to address the controversy. Gogoi claimed that the Chief Minister had failed to convince both the media and the public.

“Himanta Biswa Sarma has embarrassed himself before local and national media. Even after a two-and-a-half-hour press conference, journalists were unconvinced,” Gogoi said, adding that the Chief Minister’s statements were no longer taken seriously within Assam.

Gogoi further alleged that Sarma must explain how he and his family acquired nearly 12,000 bighas—around 4,000 acres—of prime land across the state. He asserted that a future Congress government would reclaim such land and redistribute it to the landless and economically marginalized.

Past Remarks on ‘Miya’ Community Resurface

The controversy has also brought renewed scrutiny to Sarma’s past remarks about the “Miya” community, a term commonly used to refer to Bengali-speaking Muslims of East Bengali origin in Assam. Critics point out that the Chief Minister has previously used the term in a derogatory manner.

At earlier public gatherings, Sarma had suggested underpaying Miya Muslim rickshaw pullers and stated that his political objective was to “make the Miya people suffer.” He also claimed that “four to five lakh” Muslim votes would be eliminated before the next Assembly elections.

While the term “Miya” has been reclaimed by sections of the community as a self-identifier, its use by political leaders in a pejorative context continues to draw sharp criticism from civil rights groups and opposition parties.