Supreme Court responds to concerns over communal narratives in Assam BJP’s campaign video.
The Supreme Court has taken notice of a plea calling for the removal of a video shared by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam. This video, which is reported to be generated by artificial intelligence, allegedly portrays a narrative suggesting that Assam would be dominated by Muslims if the BJP were to lose power. The notice was issued during a hearing on Tuesday, highlighting the implications of such content in the context of upcoming elections in the state.
Advocate Nizam Pasha, representing the petitioner, informed the bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that the 36-second video was posted on social media as part of the BJP’s campaign for the elections scheduled for 2026. It had been uploaded just prior to the Bodoland Territorial Council election, which took place on September 22. Pasha described the video as presenting a troubling scenario, indicating that if a particular political party does not maintain power, a specific community would take over.
During the proceedings, Pasha noted the video’s visual elements, which included depictions of individuals wearing skullcaps and beards. This portrayal was cited as contributing to a narrative that could incite communal tension. The advocate also referenced a previous Supreme Court directive from 2022, which mandated that first information reports (FIRs) should be registered by authorities in instances of hate speech, even without formal complaints. This guideline was meant to apply universally, regardless of the speaker’s religious affiliation.
The current application was filed by journalist Qurban Ali and Senior Advocate Anjana Prakash, who are seeking action against the propagation of hate speech and crimes in India. The petitioners argued that the video, posted by the Assam BJP on September 15, presents a “grossly false narrative” that could exacerbate communal tensions by suggesting that Muslims would take over Assam if the BJP were not in power.
The video reportedly includes visuals of Muslims in public settings, as well as representations of illegal migrants identified as Muslim entering Assam and acquiring government land. The petitioners claimed that the video promotes the idea that Assam has a 90% Muslim population, thereby vilifying and demonizing the Muslim community. They argued that the BJP, as a political entity, is obliged to uphold the secular principles enshrined in the Constitution.
The petitioners further contended that the video’s overarching message is one of fear, implying that the worst outcome for the state would be its takeover by Muslims. They claimed that this message is used to solicit support for the BJP by promising that voting for the party would prevent such a scenario.
In response to the video’s release, the Congress party accused the BJP of inciting communal discord through social media, urging the Election Commission to take action. The Assam Congress unit has also filed an FIR against the state BJP, alleging criminal conspiracy and violations of the model code of conduct during the Bodoland Territorial Council election. In a related statement, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi criticized the BJP for its fear-mongering tactics, asserting that such narratives reflect a broader Hindutva ideology that views the existence of Muslims in India as problematic.
The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for this matter on October 28, further underscoring the potential legal implications of the video in question.
