Guwahati, Feb 8: The Congress on February 8 mounted a sharp attack on the Assam BJP after a controversial video shared on the ruling party’s official X handle sparked outrage, with the opposition alleging that it amounted to an endorsement of targeted violence against minorities. Although the video was later taken down, the Congress said its circulation had already caused serious damage and demanded immediate judicial intervention.
According to Congress leaders, the now-deleted clip showed Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma aiming a rifle at two men — one wearing a skull cap and the other sporting a beard — accompanied by the caption “point-blank shot.” The party claimed the imagery and message were deeply disturbing and could not be brushed aside as casual social media content or political trolling.
Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal termed the video a “call to genocide” and said the gravity of the matter required action beyond political condemnation. He expressed little expectation of intervention from the Prime Minister, but stressed that the judiciary must step in without showing leniency, given the potential consequences of such content in a sensitive social climate.
Echoing the criticism, Congress spokespersons Supriya Shrinate and Shama Mohammed said deleting the post did not absolve responsibility. Shrinate accused the BJP of promoting hatred and violence, questioning whether constitutional institutions were failing to take note of such actions. She said the video reflected a dangerous mindset that could fuel communal tensions.
The controversy also drew reactions from other opposition leaders. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said the damage had already been done, as the video was downloaded and widely shared before its removal. She alleged that regulatory bodies, including the Election Commission, would likely ignore what she described as an extreme form of hate-driven political messaging.
The episode has further escalated political tensions in Assam, with opposition parties warning that such content risks normalising communal hostility and urging authorities to take urgent steps to prevent the spread of inflammatory material and uphold constitutional values.
