Guwahati: The Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has expelled its social media co-convenor, Ron Vikash Gaurav, after identifying him as the individual responsible for posting a controversial artificial intelligence (AI)–generated video on the party’s official X handle, party sources said on Wednesday.
The video, uploaded on February 7 and later deleted amid political backlash, showed imagery of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma that appeared to depict him aiming a firearm at members of the Bengali-origin Muslim community. Captions accompanying the clip included phrases such as “point-blank shot,” “foreigner free Assam,” and “Why did you not go to Pakistan?”, according to a police complaint filed by the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC).
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Congress MLAs Sibamoni Bora and Diganta Barman, in an FIR lodged at Dispur Police Station, termed the content “highly provocative and communal,” alleging it had the potential to disturb social harmony. Opposition parties including the Congress, CPI(M), CPI and AIMIM strongly criticised the video, with AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also filing a complaint in Hyderabad.
Responding to the controversy, Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia said the video was “unauthorised” and posted without approval by an “immature party worker.” He clarified that sensitive content requires prior clearance and that the party does not endorse targeting any community. The BJP said the clip was created by volunteers and denied any prior knowledge by the chief minister, who has also rejected allegations linking him to the video.
