Asaduddin Owaisi, the chief of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and a Member of Parliament, has filed a police complaint against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over a controversial video. The video, initially shared by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has triggered a wave of criticism and accusations of promoting communal hatred against Muslims.
The controversy stems from a video that purportedly shows Sarma aiming a rifle at two individuals identified as minorities. The video, which has since been deleted from social media following widespread backlash, includes AI-generated visuals of bullets striking men wearing skull caps and beards, with captions like "point-blank shot", "no mercy", and "foreigner-free Assam". Critics argue that the video explicitly targets Bengali-origin Muslims, portraying them as violent outsiders.
Owaisi, addressing a public rally in Telangana, accused Sarma of deliberately inciting hatred and sending a message of intimidation to Muslims in Assam. He stated that the imagery reinforced fears of institutional bias and normalized hostility towards minority communities. Owaisi has also criticized Sarma's past remarks against so-called "Miya Muslims," deeming them unconstitutional and divisive. He alleges that Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam are unfairly blamed for the state's socio-economic and political problems, making them scapegoats during election cycles.
Other opposition leaders and groups have also condemned the video. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sagarika Ghose called the video "shameful" and demanded immediate arrests of those responsible. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate accused the BJP of spreading hatred and questioned the legal system's inaction. Some have described the video as a direct incitement of violence and a call to genocide.
Amidst the controversy, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has denied any involvement with the video. He stated that he had not seen the video, nor had he deleted it and said that he does not engage in such actions.
The controversy arises in a tense political climate ahead of upcoming elections in Assam, with ongoing tensions over the alleged targeting of Bengali-origin Muslims. This community is among the most socio-economically marginalized in Assam and are often labeled as "outsiders" or "illegal immigrants". Rights activist Harsh Mander has also filed a police complaint against Sarma for hate speech against Bengali-origin Muslims, arguing that his rhetoric threatens constitutional principles and minority rights. Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has approached the Supreme Court, arguing that Sarma's statements are unconstitutional and dangerous.