Assam BJP video sparks outrage over 'point-blank' shot at Muslims

An explosive clip posted by the BJP's Assam unit drew fierce criticism after it appeared to show Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma aiming a rifle at two men, one wearing a skull cap and the other with a beard, with the caption point-blank shot overlaid. The post, shared on X on February 7, used imagery seen as targeting minorities and concluded with No Mercy, a framing many observers called inflammatory.

Even as the post was deleted from the BJP Assam Pradesh handle, screen recordings and video grabs continued to circulate, triggering fresh questions about the tone of campaign messaging. Opponents argued the imagery amounted to provocation and hate speech aimed at minority communities, potentially inflaming tensions in the state ahead of elections.

The main Opposition party stepped up its response, demanding that Himanta Biswa Sarma be sacked and apologize. It cited his past remarks using a term for Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, saying such rhetoric feeds harassment of minorities. Congress leaders urged the judiciary to act, warning there should be no leniency for such material.

As part of the pushback, the Congress's Kerala X handle juxtaposed the post with Prime Minister Modi's trip to Malaysia, asking what message such content sends to Muslims in India and abroad. Sarma has defended that he did not coin the term Miya Muslims. The BJP has not issued a formal response in the hours since the clip surfaced, leaving questions about accountability to grow.

Analysts say the episode underscores a charged political climate in Assam where the line between campaigning and incendiary rhetoric can blur quickly. Critics worry about normalization of violence in political discourse, while supporters see it as a test of how parties shoulder responsibility for messaging in a plural society.

#AssamPolitics, #PointBlankVideo, #CongressVsBJP