The Assam BJP removed a video showing edited footage of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma from a shooting event, after critics said it depicted Muslims as targets and risked inciting violence.

Guwahati: The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Assam unit has taken down a social media post after it drew sharp criticism for an edited video that appeared to portray Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma firing at figures resembling stereotypical Muslims.

The clip, shared from the official BJP Assam handle, combined visuals from a real shooting competition with film footage and carried a caption suggesting a “point blank shot.” The post quickly circulated online before being deleted, prompting allegations that it amounted to hate speech and could encourage violence.

Journalists and activists, including Rajdeep Sardesai, Rana Ayyub and Prashant Bhushan, publicly condemned the video, warning that such content risks inflaming communal tensions particularly sensitive in Assam amid debates around voter list revisions and illegal immigration.

The controversy erupted as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on an overseas visit and with the state heading toward the 2026 elections. Neither Sarma nor the BJP Assam unit issued an immediate clarification following the deletion.

Analysis: The episode underscores how digitally amplified political messaging can rapidly escalate into communal flashpoints. With Assam already navigating fraught identity debates, parties may face heightened scrutiny over online conduct as election season approaches. This assessment reflects analytical opinion; all factual details above are drawn from the original content.