Assam BJP Deletes Controversial Video Featuring ‘Point-Blank Shot’; Congress Calls It Incitement, Seeks Legal Action

February 8, 2026

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Assam unit has deleted a controversial video from social media that showed Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma allegedly aiming a rifle and firing at framed images of two men identified by their appearance as Muslims, triggering a political storm ahead of the Assam Assembly elections. The video, captioned “Point blank shot,” drew sharp criticism from Opposition parties, civil society groups and legal experts, who termed it an act of incitement and demanded criminal action against those responsible for its publication.

The now-deleted video was uploaded late on February 7 and remained online long enough to cross more than half a million views before being taken down. In the clip, the Chief Minister is seen holding a rifle and firing at photographs placed against a wall that reportedly bore the words “No mercy.” One of the images appeared to resemble Assam Congress president and Jorhat Member of Parliament Gaurav Gogoi, shown wearing a white skullcap, while another figure was depicted with a beard. The video ended with Mr. Sarma portrayed in the stylised attire of a gunslinging cowboy.

Neither the Chief Minister nor the Assam BJP issued an official explanation for the video’s posting or its subsequent deletion, a silence that further intensified criticism from the Opposition.

Political Fallout and Opposition Response

The Congress party was among the first to respond strongly, calling the video “deeply disturbing” and accusing the BJP of openly promoting hatred against Muslims. Senior Congress leader and party general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal described the clip as “nothing but a call to genocide,” arguing that it could not be dismissed as the work of internet trolls.

“This is poison spread from the very top,” Mr. Venugopal said in a post on social media. “There must be consequences. Even if there is no hope of action from the Prime Minister, the judiciary must intervene, and there should be no leniency.”

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate, who heads the party’s social media and digital platforms, said deleting the video was “not enough.” She accused BJP leaders of normalising violence through political messaging and questioned the silence of constitutional authorities. “Are the courts and other institutions asleep?” she asked, adding that the responsibility for such content rested squarely with the party leadership.

The Assam Congress later filed a first information report (FIR), accusing the BJP’s State unit of promoting communal hatred and inciting violence. Party leaders demanded that law enforcement agencies register criminal cases against those involved in producing and disseminating the video.

Legal Experts Seek Judicial Intervention

The controversy also drew responses from members of the legal fraternity. Senior advocate and activist Prashant Bhushan urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the matter, calling the video a “serious criminal offence.”

“Any opposition functionary posting such content would likely have been booked under stringent laws,” Mr. Bhushan said, arguing that the principle of equality before law required the same standards to be applied regardless of political affiliation.

Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament Sagarika Ghose echoed similar concerns, stating that merely deleting the video could not absolve the BJP of responsibility. She said the content appeared to attract provisions related to promoting enmity and incitement under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and called for exemplary punishment.

Broader Political Context

The episode unfolded against the backdrop of an intense political climate in Assam, where the BJP has been campaigning aggressively on issues related to what it terms “illegal immigration.” The phrase is often used in reference to Bengali-speaking or Bengal-origin settlers in the State, a narrative that has been criticised by Opposition parties and minority groups as being discriminatory and communal in nature.

Critics argue that the video reinforced fears that political rhetoric was increasingly crossing into explicit symbolism of violence. They warned that such messaging, particularly when attributed to a sitting Chief Minister, could have serious real-world consequences by legitimising hostility against minority communities.

The timing of the video also attracted attention. The Kerala unit of the Congress tagged Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in a social media post, questioning how such content emerged while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on an official visit to Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country. The post accused the BJP of abandoning any pretence of moderation and alleged that the video amounted to an “open call for minority genocide.”

BJP Silence and Deletion of Video

Despite the growing outrage, the Assam BJP has not issued a detailed clarification. The party’s decision to delete the video without explanation has been criticised as inadequate and evasive. Opposition leaders argue that removal of content after it has gone viral does not mitigate its impact, especially when it has already reached a large audience.

Political analysts note that the silence from the ruling party could deepen public mistrust and raise questions about accountability. “Deletion without explanation suggests damage control rather than remorse or responsibility,” said a political commentator based in Guwahati.

Role of Election Campaigns and Social Media

The controversy has once again highlighted the role of social media in election campaigns and the blurred line between political messaging and inflammatory content. With Assembly elections approaching, parties across the spectrum have intensified their online presence, often using provocative visuals and slogans to mobilise supporters.

Experts warn that such strategies can escalate tensions in a diverse society. “Visual symbolism is powerful,” said a media studies academic. “When violence is implied or dramatised, it can normalise extreme attitudes and undermine democratic discourse.”

Calls for Institutional Action

Beyond party politics, several commentators have stressed the need for institutional safeguards. They have urged the Election Commission, police authorities and the judiciary to act decisively to ensure that campaign content does not violate laws or constitutional values.

Some civil society groups have also demanded clearer guidelines and stricter enforcement mechanisms for political advertising and digital communication, arguing that existing norms are insufficient to address rapidly spreading online content.

What Lies Ahead

As of now, the controversy shows no sign of abating. The filing of FIRs and calls for judicial intervention suggest that the issue may soon move into legal territory. Whether investigative agencies or courts will take cognisance remains to be seen.

For the BJP, the episode risks reinforcing Opposition allegations of communal polarisation. For the Congress and other parties, it has become a rallying point to demand accountability and highlight concerns over the tone of political discourse.

As Assam heads toward elections, the incident underscores the broader challenge facing Indian democracy: balancing free political expression with the responsibility to prevent hate speech and violence. The coming days are likely to determine whether this controversy results in concrete legal or institutional action, or whether it becomes another flashpoint in an increasingly polarised political landscape.