Owaisi Files Complaint Against Sarma Over Deleted Video

Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi filed a police complaint on February 9 against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over a now-deleted social media video that depicted Sarma symbolically firing at images of Muslim men, drawing accusations of inciting communal hatred.

The video, posted on February 8 by the Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party on its official X account, combined footage of Sarma handling an air rifle with artificial intelligence-generated visuals showing bullets striking photos of men wearing skullcaps and beards, identifiers often associated with Muslim identity. On-screen text included phrases such as "point blank shot," "no mercy," "foreigner free Assam," "Why did you not go to Pakistan?" and "There is no forgiveness to Bangladeshis." The clip portrayed Sarma in a heroic style reminiscent of Western films and was captioned to emphasize a direct confrontation. It was removed hours later amid widespread criticism on social media and from political opponents, who labeled it an open call for violence against minorities.

Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, lodged the complaint with Hyderabad City Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar,...