Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attempts rifle shooting at a sports complex on February 2, 2026. (Ani)
Guwahati: The Bharatiya Janata Party in Assam has sacked the co-convener of its social media team for posting a now-deleted video featuring Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma that sparked a huge controversy, a senior leader announced on Thursday. The video showed Sarma aiming his rifle and firing at two people, one wearing a skull cap and one with a beard, with the caption: “Shooting at close range.”
The AI-generated video was uploaded to the official X-handle of the ruling BJP on Saturday night, but was deleted following political backlash.
“The video was uploaded in an unauthorized manner without proper vetting. The person concerned has been removed from the post of co-convenor of the social media team,” a senior leader told PTI. The deleted social media co-convener was identified as Ron Vikash Gaurav.
“Only a few people have the right to create posts and upload publicity materials on the BJP’s social media handles. Usually, they can do it on their own to share party programs or leaders’ speeches. But for sensitive topics, permission is required from the social media officer or the party president or the CM’s office if the chief minister is involved,” said a senior BJP leader.
Ranjiv Kumar Sarma currently heads the Bharatiya Janata Party’s social media team and his team had four co-convenors before Gaurav’s removal.
CM Sarma said on Wednesday that the police had registered a case based on the complaint of Congress leaders regarding the video. He said a Bharatiya Janata Party worker had also filed a separate police complaint in the same matter.
While Sarma on Monday claimed he was unaware of the video, state Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi accused the CM of “inciting genocide” against Muslims through his video and asked the police to take full control of the matter.
AIMIM chairman Asaduddin Owaisi had on Monday filed a complaint with the Hyderabad police seeking criminal action against the Assam CM over the now-deleted video.
Sarma responded, “If any case is filed against me, please arrest me. I have no objections. I am ready to go to jail. I will always keep my word. I am against Bangladeshi infiltrators and will continue to do so.”
