The Assam BJP on Thursday removed its social media co-convenor Ron Vikash Gaurav after an AI-generated video featuring Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was uploaded on the party’s official X handle without authorisation, triggering political backlash and police complaints.
The now-deleted video purportedly showed Sarma taking aim with a rifle and firing at two individuals, one wearing a skull cap and the other with a beard, with the caption “point-blank shot”.
The video was uploaded on Saturday evening and removed shortly after criticism mounted.
“The video was uploaded without proper vetting in an unauthorised manner. The person concerned has been removed from the post of co-convenor of the social media team,” a senior BJP leader maintaui.
The leader said only a limited number of individuals are authorised to create and upload content on the party’s social media platforms.
“Only a few people have the right to create posts and upload publicity materials on the BJP social media handles. Usually, they can do it on their own for sharing party programmes or speeches of our leaders. But for sensitive topics, they need authorisation from the social media in-charge or party president or
the CM's office if it involves the chief minister,” the senior BJP leader said.
Also read: Himanta-Gogoi spat escalates over ‘Pakistan link’ allegations
Ranjib Kumar Sarmah heads the state BJP’s social media team. Prior to Gaurav’s removal, the team had four co-convenors.
Chief Minister Sarma on Wednesday said police had registered a case based on a complaint filed by Congress leaders over the video. He added that a BJP worker had also lodged a separate complaint on the same issue.
Sarma had on Monday stated that he was not aware of the video. Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi accused the Chief Minister of “inciting genocide” against Muslims through his videos and urged police to take suo motu cognisance of the matter.
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi lodged a complaint with the Hyderabad Police on Monday, seeking criminal action against Sarma over the deleted video.
Responding to the complaint, Sarma said, “If any case has been filed against me, arrest me. I don't have any objection. I will be prepared to go to jail. I will always stick to my words. I am opposed to Bangladeshi infiltrators and will always remain so.”
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