Himanta Biswa sarma's Controversial 'Point Blank Shot' Video Sparks Outrage as Election Campaign Turns Divisive

Guwahati: As Assam’s assembly elections draw near, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have come under fire for intensifying a divisive campaign against Muslims in the state. The Assam BJP recently shared a controversial video on its official X account, which depicted Sarma firing a gun at Muslims.

The video, which combined real footage of Sarma using a firearm with AI-generated imagery of him firing at Muslim figures, was shared with the provocative caption "Point blank shot." The video included inflammatory phrases such as "Assam without foreigners," "There will be no mercy," and "Why don't you go to Pakistan."

The video sparked immediate outrage across political circles, with opposition parties condemning the hateful content. Following widespread backlash, the Assam BJP quickly removed the video from its account.

This incident is the latest in a series of controversial remarks made by Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has often been accused of fostering animosity towards the minorities in the state. Previously, he made public statements displaying his hatred towards teh miority communities, where he said that his job is to make life difficult for "Miya Muslims." He further stated that he had instructed BJP workers to create problems for this community, with the aim of removing up to 5 lakh "Miya voters" from the state’s voter list. "We will create some difficulties for them within the boundaries of the law," Sarma stated.

His comments were made amid special intensive revision of voter's list in the state, which is being used as a tool to target Muslim voters in the state, particularly those of Bengali descent.

In addition to his remarks, Sarma has earlier hinted at introducing two key laws in the state legislative assembly session aimed at protecting indigenous communities and preventing what he sees as the rising threat of "foreigners." He emphasized that the BJP government’s focus is on safeguarding the land, homes, and rights of Assam's native people.

However, these actions represent a dangerous shift towards authoritarianism, with the state government openly targeting minority communities for political gain.

The controversy surrounding Sarma’s statements and the video has triggered protests across Assam and at the national level. Political opponents have condemned the Chief Minister's approach, calling it a violation of constitutional principles and a threat to India's pluralistic identity.

The Assam Chief Minister's rhetoric, especially in the run-up to elections, is part of a broader strategy to stoke division and mobilize his base through fear and hate.