Guwahati/New Delhi- A now-deleted video posted on the official X handle of BJP's Assam unit has triggered widespread condemnation, with opposition leaders accusing it of glorifying violence against minorities, specifically Bengali-origin Muslims referred as the "Miyan" community. The video, captioned "point blank shot," combined footage of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma handling rifles (from real events) with AI-generated images depicting point-blank shots at individuals portrayed as Muslims, overlaid with inflammatory phrases such as "foreigner free Assam," "No mercy," "Why did you not go to Pakistan?" and "There is no forgiveness to Bangladeshis."
The post was removed following backlash, but screenshots and descriptions circulated widely on social media and in news reports from several outlets.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal strongly condemned the video in a post on X, describing it as a direct escalation of hate. He wrote:
"An official BJP handle posted a video showing the targeted, 'point-blank' murder of minorities. This is nothing but a call to genocide - a dream this fascist regime has harboured since decades. This is not an innocuous video to be ignored as troll content. It is poison spread from the very top, and there must be consequences for this. There is no hope that Narendra Modi will condemn or act against this, but the judiciary must act, and there shouldn’t be any leniency shown in this case."
The Indian National Congress issued an official statement echoing similar sentiments, calling the video "deeply abhorrent" and a "call to mass violence and genocide," reflecting the "true face of this fascist regime" that has allegedly normalised hatred over the past 11 years. The party urged the judiciary to intervene firmly, stating there can be "no hope" from the Prime Minister for accountability.
Other reactions included Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi describing it as "shooting at the chest of the Constitution," and TMC MP Sagarika Ghose calling for the arrest of those responsible. Congress leader Supriya Srinate wrote in a x post, " Deleting the video where Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma is shown shooting Muslim men with a caption ‘POINT BLANK SHOT’ isn’t enough This is who the BJP really is: Mass murderers This venom, hatred and violence is on you Mr Modi Are the courts and other institutions sleeping?"
The controversy revives scrutiny of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's longstanding rhetoric against Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, often labelled "Miyas" (a term widely viewed as derogatory and linked to accusations of illegal immigration from Bangladesh). This community, many of whom trace origins to pre-Partition migrations and have integrated into Assamese society, has faced repeated vilification amid debates over the Assam Accord, NRC, and electoral roll revisions.
In recent public statements, Sarma reportedly said his job was to "make the Miya people suffer" through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, claiming "four to five lakh" such votes could be deleted ahead of Assembly elections.
He allegedly urged people to "trouble" the community, including economic measures like underpaying rickshaw fares (e.g., paying only ₹4 for a ₹5 fare if the driver is "Miya"). Earlier remarks emphasised that only "Miyas" (not Hindus) face such scrutiny, framing it as action against "illegal immigrants" while denying communal intent and asserting compliance with law.
These statements have drawn criticism from intellectuals, including a recent letter to the Gauhati High Court by 43 prominent Assamese figures (led by Dr. Hiren Gohain) seeking suo motu cognisance for alleged hate speech and executive interference. The latest video is seen by critics as an intensification of this campaign, especially with Assam heading toward elections.