Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated on Monday that he is prepared to face arrest following a police complaint lodged by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi. The complaint concerns a controversial video shared by the Assam BJP that has since been taken down. Sarma claimed he was unaware of the video’s contents but firmly reiterated his stance against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.
In a statement to news agency ANI, Sarma said, “I am ready to go to jail; what can I do? I do not know anything about any video. If he has filed a case against me, arrest me; what objection do I have? I have no objection. But I stand by my words, I am against Bangladeshi infiltrators, and I will continue to be against them.”
Details of the Complaint by Owaisi
Owaisi, the Hyderabad MP, filed the complaint with the Hyderabad City Police, characterizing the video as displaying violence against Muslims. He called it “genocidal hate speech.” In a post on X, Owaisi claimed that the video depicted Sarma symbolically shooting at individuals he identified as Muslims. He expressed concern over the normalization of such hate speech in the current political climate.
The video in question, which was first uploaded on February 7 via the official X account of the Assam BJP, was removed a day later but continues to circulate on various social media platforms. Owaisi emphasized that the language and imagery used in the video, particularly phrases like “point blank shot” and “no mercy,” were designed to provoke religious sentiment and incite violence.
Legal and Political Repercussions
Owaisi’s complaint highlights that law enforcement is mandated to act on hate speech cases, even in the absence of a formal complaint. He has called for prompt action from authorities regarding the issue. Owaisi also brought up the matter during a public gathering in Zaheerabad on Sunday while campaigning for the upcoming Telangana municipal elections scheduled for February 11.
Addressing attendees, Owaisi criticized the ruling BJP for perpetuating communal discord and urged voters to consider AIMIM as a viable alternative to communal politics. He pointed out the party’s commitment to community service during violent incidents in the past, alleging that neither the Congress nor the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) governments had taken adequate action.
Owaisi underlined the significance of local governance through municipal elections and called on residents to support AIMIM candidates to promote inclusive development and effective grassroots leadership.
