Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday brushed aside demands for clarification over a controversial video that triggered a major political storm, asserting that he did not owe any explanation for it and was prepared to face legal consequences if required.
The controversy erupted after a video, later deleted from the Assam BJP’s official social media handle, showed visuals described by opposition parties as depicting the chief minister aiming and firing a gun at “point-blank” range. The clip, which mixed real footage with edited and allegedly AI-generated images, carried charged captions such as “point-blank shot” and slogans linked to the ruling party’s campaign against illegal immigration. Critics alleged that the imagery appeared to target members of a particular community, sparking outrage across political lines.
Responding to questions from reporters, Sarma said he had no prior knowledge of the video and distanced himself from its creation or posting. “I don’t know anything about any such video. I don’t owe any explanation,” the chief minister said, adding that he was ready to go to jail if any case was registered against him. He maintained that his political stand on illegal immigration and law enforcement in Assam remained unchanged.
The opposition, led by the Congress, sharply criticised the video, calling it provocative and dangerous. Senior Congress leaders alleged that the content amounted to incitement of communal hatred and demanded immediate legal action against those responsible. The party, along with several other opposition groups, lodged police complaints in different states seeking registration of FIRs against the chief minister.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also filed a complaint, accusing Sarma of promoting religious enmity through the video. Left parties, including the CPI and CPI(M), approached the Supreme Court, seeking a court-monitored probe and directions for criminal action, arguing that no effective steps had been taken despite widespread outrage.
The matter has now reached the apex court, where the Chief Justice observed that political disputes increasingly find their way into the judiciary during election seasons. The court is expected to consider pleas related to the video in the coming days.
The Assam BJP removed the clip from its social media handle following the backlash, but the party has not issued a detailed explanation on how the video was produced or approved. The incident has further intensified the political atmosphere in the state ahead of upcoming elections, with the ruling party and the opposition locked in a war of words over responsibility, intent and the use of aggressive political messaging.
As legal and political scrutiny continues, the episode has reignited debate over the use of provocative visuals, edited content and artificial intelligence in political communication, and their impact on social harmony.
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