NEW DELHI: The Congress on Sunday accused the BJP of promoting hate and targeting minorities after a purported video posted on the ruling party’s Assam unit X handle showed Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma allegedly firing a rifle at two individuals identified as minorities, and demanded strict judicial action in the matter.The now-deleted video, captioned “point-blank shot”, showed Sarma purportedly aiming a rifle and firing at two people, one wearing a skull cap and another with a beard. The Congress said the clip amounted to a direct incitement of violence and could not be dismissed as online trolling.Venugopal calls video a call to genocideCongress general secretary in charge of organisation K C Venugopal said the video represented a dangerous escalation of hate.”An official BJP handle posted a video showing the targeted, ‘point-blank’ murder of minorities. This is nothing but a call to genocide – a dream this fascist regime has harboured for decades,” Venugopal said on X.He said the matter required immediate judicial intervention.”This is not an innocuous video to be ignored as troll content, but as poison spread from the very top, and there must be consequences for this,” he said.”There is no hope that Narendra Modi will condemn or act against this, but the judiciary must act, and there shouldn’t be any leniency shown in this case,” Venugopal added.Congress says deleting video not enoughCongress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said deleting the video did not absolve responsibility.”This is who the BJP really is: Mass murderers. This venom, hatred and violence is on you, Mr Modi. Are the courts and other institutions sleeping?” she said on X.Another Congress spokesperson Shama Mohammed accused the BJP of undermining constitutional values.”@narendramodi, you talk about ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, but your favourite man, Himanta Biswa Sarma, made a video Shooting Muslims and got it posted from the official handle of BJP Assam,” she said.“This is an attack on the Indian Constitution. I am shocked that the Supreme Court of India is acting as a mute spectator. The court’s silence and failure to take suo motu cognisance puts its role into question,” she added.Opposition leaders also target BJP, ECShiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also criticised the BJP and the Election Commission.“The BJP Assam Pradesh X handle posted one of the most hate-driven, targeted videos titled ‘Point Blank Shot’; after outrage, it went on to delete the post, but it was there long enough for many people to download and spread it further,” Chaturvedi said on X.”Shamelessly, EC will ignore this vilest form of hate and political targeting. Toothless and useless, literally, in front of BJP,” she added.The BJP has not responded to the Congress’s allegations so far.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. 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NEW DELHI: The Congress on Sunday accused the BJP of promoting hate and targeting minorities after a purported video posted on the ruling party’s Assam unit X handle showed Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma allegedly firing a rifle at two individuals identified as minorities, and demanded strict judicial action in the matter.The now-deleted video, captioned “point-blank shot”, showed Sarma purportedly aiming a rifle and firing at two people, one wearing a skull cap and another with a beard. The Congress said the clip amounted to a direct incitement of violence and could not be dismissed as online trolling.Venugopal calls video a call to genocideCongress general secretary in charge of organisation K C Venugopal said the video represented a dangerous escalation of hate.“An official BJP handle posted a video showing the targeted, ‘point-blank’ murder of minorities. This is nothing but a call to genocide – a dream this fascist regime has harboured for decades,” Venugopal said on X.He said the matter required immediate judicial intervention.“This is not an innocuous video to be ignored as troll content, but as poison spread from the very top, and there must be consequences for this,” he said.“There is no hope that Narendra Modi will condemn or act against this, but the judiciary must act, and there shouldn’t be any leniency shown in this case,” Venugopal added.Congress says deleting video not enoughCongress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said deleting the video did not absolve responsibility.“This is who the BJP really is: Mass murderers. This venom, hatred and violence is on you, Mr Modi. Are the courts and other institutions sleeping?” she said on X.Another Congress spokesperson Shama Mohammed accused the BJP of undermining constitutional values.“@narendramodi, you talk about ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, but your favourite man, Himanta Biswa Sarma, made a video Shooting Muslims and got it posted from the official handle of BJP Assam,” she said.“This is an attack on the Indian Constitution. I am shocked that the Supreme Court of India is acting as a mute spectator. The court’s silence and failure to take suo motu cognisance puts its role into question,” she added.Opposition leaders also target BJP, ECShiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also criticised the BJP and the Election Commission.“The BJP Assam Pradesh X handle posted one of the most hate-driven, targeted videos titled ‘Point Blank Shot’; after outrage, it went on to delete the post, but it was there long enough for many people to download and spread it further,” Chaturvedi said on X.“Shamelessly, EC will ignore this vilest form of hate and political targeting. Toothless and useless, literally, in front of BJP,” she added.The BJP has not responded to the Congress’s allegations so far.
