Assam BJP Removes Social Media Official Over Controversial 'Point Blank Shot' Video
The Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken disciplinary action by removing one of its social media department co-conveners following a significant controversy. This decision comes in response to a video posted from the party's official X handle that depicted Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma aiming a rifle at two men wearing skullcaps, one of whom bore a resemblance to Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi.
Backlash and Deletion of the Video
The video, uploaded last Saturday with the caption "Point blank shot", quickly drew widespread criticism from across the political spectrum. It featured an image of CM Sarma shooting at a photograph of the two men and concluded with a cowboy-themed graphic of him superimposed with phrases like "No mercy to Bangladeshis", "Why did you go to Pakistan?" and "Foreigner-free Assam." Due to the intense backlash, the video was deleted the following day.
Party's Response and Justification
Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia confirmed the removal of the co-convener, describing the post as an "immature" and "unauthorised" action. In a statement to The Indian Express, Saikia emphasized that while the party is concerned about illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Assam, it does not support targeting Muslims with bullets. "The party took note, and we got the video deleted," he stated, clarifying that the content was mishandled by an individual without proper authorization.
Saikia explained that co-conveners have the authority to upload routine posts, such as party programs and greetings, but sensitive material—especially involving the Chief Minister's image—requires approval from senior leaders like in-charge Ranjib Sarma or the CM's office. "This post was not vetted by the concerned authorities," he claimed.
CM Sarma's Stance and Legal Actions
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also distanced himself from the video, asserting he had no prior knowledge of it. He highlighted that an FIR has been registered based on a complaint by Congress MLAs, and a BJP member has filed a case as well. Sarma reiterated the party's position, saying, "In Assam, everybody knows that we are not against Assamese Muslims. We are against Bangladeshi Muslims, whom we call Miya Muslims." He stressed that the BJP does not support actions against the Assamese Muslim community.
Social Media Team Structure and Past Incidents
The Assam BJP's social media department, led by convener Biswajit Khound, includes four co-conveners appointed in August 2025, along with 20 state-level members and district teams. Khound noted that content creation is handled by volunteer party workers, with no private agencies involved. Decision-making on posts varies based on subject matter and expertise among team members.
This incident is not the first time the Assam BJP's X handle has faced scrutiny. In September last year, the handle posted an AI-generated video titled 'Assam without BJP', which depicted controversial scenes like beef legalization and images of people in skullcaps and burkhas in various locations. The Supreme Court later issued a notice regarding a plea to take down that video.
The removal of the social media official underscores the ongoing challenges political parties face in managing digital content and the fine line between political messaging and inflammatory rhetoric.
