As political temperatures rise ahead of elections in Assam, a controversy involving a video shared by the Bharatiya Janata Party has triggered sharp reactions from opposition leaders. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has accused Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of openly promoting communal hatred, after a clip surfaced showing the chief minister appearing to aim a firearm at two individuals identified as belonging to minority communities. The video, later removed following criticism, has added to an already fraught political atmosphere in the northeastern state.

Speaking at a public rally in Zaheerabad in Telangana, Owaisi said his party would file a police complaint over the video, arguing that it crossed constitutional and moral boundaries. He claimed the imagery was not accidental and was designed to send a message of intimidation to Muslims, particularly in Assam.

Owaisi’s Attack On Assam Chief Minister

Owaisi, who heads the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, accused Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of deliberately inciting hatred against Muslims. Referring to the video, he said the visuals reinforced fears of institutional bias and normalised hostility towards minority communities.

The AIMIM leader warned against the belief that communalism fades with a change in government. According to him, religious polarisation continues irrespective of which party is in power. Owaisi urged voters to back AIMIM candidates, positioning his party as a counter to what he described as the growing normalisation of communal politics.

Communal Politics And Allegations Of Targeting Muslims

The controversy has revived attention on Sarma’s earlier remarks on so-called “Miya Muslims”, which Owaisi described as unconstitutional and deeply divisive. He alleged that Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam were being unfairly blamed for social, economic and political problems in the state, turning them into convenient scapegoats during election cycles.

Owaisi stressed that the Constitution guarantees equality before the law and that no group should be singled out based on religion or language. He argued that rhetoric and symbolism used by senior leaders have real-world consequences, particularly when they appear to legitimise discrimination or intimidation.

BJP’s Defence And Electoral Implications

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has defended its broader agenda in Assam, repeatedly stating that its policies are aimed at curbing illegal immigration and protecting the rights of indigenous communities. Party leaders have maintained that their actions should not be viewed through a communal lens.

However, opposition parties argue that such narratives blur the line between governance and religious polarisation. With elections approaching in Assam, the latest controversy is expected to sharpen political divisions, placing issues of identity, citizenship and constitutional values at the centre of public debate. The row also underscores how visual symbolism and political messaging continue to shape electoral discourse in the state and beyond.

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