A controversy has erupted following a video posted and then deleted by the Assam BJP's official X (formerly Twitter) handle, which depicted Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma appearing to aim a rifle and shoot at two individuals, one wearing a skull cap and the other with a beard. The video was captioned "point-blank shot".
The Congress party has reacted strongly to the video, calling it a "call to genocide" and demanding immediate judicial intervention. K.C. Venugopal, Congress general secretary, stated that the video portrays the "targeted, 'point-blank' murder of minorities" and reflects a long-held "fascist" dream. He argued that it was not merely troll content but "poison spread from the very top," insisting on accountability and urging the judiciary to act without leniency, expressing doubt that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would condemn the video.
Echoing this sentiment, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate described the BJP as "mass murderers" and directly implicated Prime Minister Modi, questioning the silence of courts and other institutions. Shama Mohammed, another Congress spokesperson, criticized Modi's "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" slogan, pointing out the contradiction in Sarma's actions and the video's posting on the official BJP Assam handle. She expressed shock at the Supreme Court's silence, suggesting it questions the court's role.
Priyanka Chaturvedi, a Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, also condemned the video as "hate-driven" and "targeted," criticizing the Election Commission for allegedly ignoring such actions. The Congress party's Kerala unit drew a connection between the video and Modi's visit to Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country, questioning the message being sent to Muslims worldwide.
In response to the allegations of this video and other claims, the BJP has not yet responded. However, Himanta Biswa Sarma has previously threatened to file defamation cases against Congress leaders who have accused him and his family of land grabbing. These accusations include claims that Sarma and his family have occupied approximately 12,000 bighas of land across Assam. Sarma has stated he will initiate civil and criminal defamation proceedings. A BJP spokesperson has refuted the land grab allegations, stating they lack truth and legal basis.
This controversy arises amidst heightened political tensions in Assam, with the Congress party accusing the BJP of attempting to destabilize its voter base and manipulate the electoral process ahead of the 2026 elections. The Congress has launched a website to expose what it describes as the BJP's corruption and anti-people activities.