Assam Congress Chief Accuses CM of Inciting Genocide Through Controversial Video
Guwahati: A political firestorm has erupted in Assam after a controversial video shared by the state BJP unit on social media platform X, which has since been deleted, showed Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma aiming a rifle and firing at two individuals. Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Gaurav Gogoi has leveled serious allegations, claiming the video was deliberately crafted to "incite genocide" against the Muslim community in the state.
Video Content and Immediate Backlash
The contentious video depicted CM Sarma taking aim with a firearm and discharging a shot toward two figures. One of the individuals was shown wearing a skull cap, while the other had a beard, with the caption "point-blank shot" accompanying the footage. This visual representation quickly drew sharp criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups, who interpreted it as a targeted and provocative message against Muslims.
In response to the growing controversy, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi filed a formal police complaint in Hyderabad, demanding legal action against those responsible for creating and disseminating the video. The complaint underscores the national attention the incident has garnered.
CM Sarma's Defense and Stance on Infiltration
When questioned by mediapersons in Dibrugarh, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated he was unaware of any such video. He adopted a defiant posture, declaring, "I am not aware of any videos. If a case was filed against me, let them arrest me. But I will remain firm on my words. We are against Bangladeshi infiltrators and will always be against them. I will be ready to go to jail. What can I do?"
This statement reinforces Sarma's long-standing political position on illegal immigration from Bangladesh, a central issue in Assam's socio-political landscape. However, critics argue that the video's imagery dangerously conflates this policy stance with communal targeting.
Congress Allegations and Political Accusations
Gaurav Gogoi, leading the Congress charge, did not mince words in his condemnation. He accused CM Sarma of undergoing a complete transformation in his religious stance after switching from the Congress to the BJP. "After he joined BJP, such video was made by them, inciting genocide against Muslims. They circulated such a communal video," Gogoi asserted.
Furthermore, Gogoi called upon the Assam Police to take suo motu cognizance of the matter, emphasizing that the video appeared to deliberately target a specific religious community, which could potentially violate laws against promoting enmity between different groups.
BJP's Explanation and Deletion of Video
Assam Pradesh BJP spokesperson Ranjib Kumar Sharma provided the party's official explanation for the video. He clarified that the intent was to highlight the issue of migrant Muslims from Bangladesh attempting to cross the international border into India, not to target Indian Muslims broadly. "BJP posted the video aiming at migrant Muslims from Bangladesh who were trying to cross the India-Bangladesh international border. Some people, especially Congress, misinterpreted the video and we deleted it," Sharma told The Times of India.
This statement indicates the BJP's acknowledgment that the video's messaging was ambiguous or poorly conveyed, leading to widespread misinterpretation and necessitating its removal from social media platforms.
Strong Condemnation from Assam Jatiya Parishad
The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), a regional political party, issued a strongly worded press statement condemning the video. AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi and general secretary Jagadish Bhuyan accused the ruling BJP of "openly inciting communal violence in Assam."
Their statement elaborated, "The video, which appeared on the Assam BJP’s Facebook and Twitter handles, carried a clear and dangerous message. The video depicted bullets being fired from chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s gun and showed certain groups of people being deliberately targeted, accompanied by the phrase 'point blank shot'. The intent behind the video was unmistakable."
The AJP's reaction highlights the broader political and social concerns in Assam regarding communal harmony and the potential for inflammatory content to destabilize the region's delicate social fabric.
Broader Implications and Political Context
This incident occurs against the backdrop of Assam's complex demographic and political dynamics, where issues of immigration, identity, and communal relations are perennially sensitive. The use of symbolic imagery in political communication, especially involving firearms and targeted communities, raises serious questions about the boundaries of political discourse and the responsibilities of elected officials and ruling parties.
The controversy also reflects the intensifying political rivalry between the BJP and opposition parties like the Congress and AJP in Assam, as they vie for public support and moral high ground on issues of security and communal peace.
As legal proceedings may unfold following Owaisi's complaint and potential police action, the episode is likely to remain a focal point in Assam's political narrative, influencing public perception and electoral strategies in the lead-up to future state and national elections.
