Congress to Lodge Complaint Against Assam BJP for AI Video Targeting Minorities

The Congress party has raised serious concerns over an AI-generated video shared by the Assam BJP on X (formerly Twitter), titled “Assam without BJP.” The video implies that without BJP in power, Assam would be dominated by the minority Muslim community. It features a series of AI-generated images showing provocative and communal scenarios, including a man in a skullcap cutting meat under a “beef legalization” sign, Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi and Rahul Gandhi in front of the Pakistani flag, and groups of people in traditional Muslim attire at public landmarks like Guwahati Stadium, Rang Ghar, an airport, and tea gardens. Another image depicts people crossing a border fence, labeled “illegal immigrants.” The video concludes with the text “90% Muslim population” and urges viewers to “choose your vote carefully.” The BJP Assam Pradesh handle captioned the post, “We can’t let this dream of Paijaan come true!” mocking Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, whom Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has previously called a “Pakistani stooge.”

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate reacted by tagging the Election Commission on X and questioning whether action would be taken. Assam Congress spokesperson Bedabrata Bora confirmed that the party plans to lodge a formal police complaint at Bhangagarh Police Station, Guwahati. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi criticized the video, calling it a divisive ploy by the BJP’s IT cell, asserting that such tactics cannot shake the foundations of Assamese society, shaped by inclusive leaders like Srimanta Sankardeva, Azan Pir, and Bhupen Hazarika. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also condemned the video as a “disgusting display of BJP’s true Hindutva agenda,” arguing that the party relies on fear-mongering because it lacks a genuine vision for India, treating the presence of Muslims as a threat.

In response, Assam BJP defended the video. Party spokesperson Rupam Goswami said the issue was about illegal immigrants affecting Assam’s socio-economic and political landscape, not Muslims, while Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika insisted critics misinterpreted the video’s message, emphasizing it addressed illegal immigration rather than religion. The BJP Assam Pradesh account, with over 2 lakh followers, frequently posts similar AI-generated videos portraying Gogoi in skullcaps or interacting with Pakistan Army officials, content not found on BJP’s official Facebook page. Biswajit Khound, the 33-year-old state social media convenor, described this as part of the party’s “aggressive digital strategy,” targeting younger audiences on X and tailoring content based on grassroots feedback.

This campaign aligns with BJP’s broader narrative in Assam, focusing on Bengali-origin Muslims and the Sarma government’s measures against “suspected foreign nationals.” The state government has recently implemented regulations restricting interfaith land transactions, further bolstering BJP’s messaging ahead of the next year’s Assembly elections. Amid posts celebrating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday, the BJP Assam handle continued to release targeted videos, including visuals from Congress rallies featuring minority community members. The AI videos, provocative in tone, aim to influence voters by evoking fears of demographic changes, reinforcing the BJP’s broader political narrative in Assam, and shaping public perception ahead of elections.

Overall, the controversy highlights the increasing role of AI-generated content in Indian political campaigns, raising questions about ethical boundaries, communal polarization, and the responsibilities of political parties and social media platforms in regulating provocative content. Congress’s move to involve the Election Commission and file a police complaint signals the legal and regulatory scrutiny such digital political campaigns may face.