India's ruling party is accused of “open hatred” after releasing AI-generated videos targeting Muslims in the election-bound northeastern state of Assam.
A video shared by the official X-account of the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiyajanata Party (BJP) Assam branch depicts Muslims as illegal immigrants seizing land owned by the government in northeastern India.
This video features Muslims, mostly men wearing Islamic skull hats, traditional tunics, and Longi Or traditional South Asian salons with airports, tea grounds, heritage sites, capital stadiums, and government facilities such as Guwahati. The Muslim woman in the video was portrayed wearing a hijab or burka.
The video caption is “No Assam” [the] “BJP” and called it the “dream” of Assam's deputy opposition leader Gaurav Gogoi. He also argued for an unspecified “link” between Gogoi's opposition Congress party and Pakistan, indicating that opposition leader Rahul Gandhi would address the crowd next to the Pakistani flag.
The video incorrectly claims that the state's Muslim population will increase to 90% over an unspecified period. This nods to the broader so-called “exchange theory” that surprised the right-wing group, and Muslims one day replace Hindus as a multi-religion in India. According to the latest census conducted in 2011, Muslims currently account for 34.22% of Assam's total population.
The video aims to secure power for another term of the dominant Hindu nationalist BJP ahead of the state assembly elections scheduled for spring 2026.
Critics argued that the video promoted hatred of minority communities and risked the robbery of Muslims in a state where they have long been targeted more than their ethnic religious identity.
Christopher Clary, an associate professor of political science at the University of Albany, called it “undoubtedly the most collaborative ad I have ever imagined.” The term community is usually used in India to refer to something that promotes religious hatred and division.
Author and academic Apoorvanand wrote:
Congress party spokesman Rabana Baral Jain called the video “xenophobia” and “totally disgusting.” “The British launched inequality and control, and the BJP completed it,” she said, referring to colonial strategies.
“What a terrible ad! As a nation, we must resolve that hate and xenophobia do not have space in our political discourse.
“This cannot become India. This is so hateful and wrong. Is this kind of hatred really unchecked? What is going on?” asked actor Shreya Dhanwansari.
Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Issues Editor Hindus The newspaper wrote: “In democracy, the “national” party does not seek votes by demonizing religious communities. We provide expression to everyone,” he added.
Independence I contacted BJP for comment.
Assam, home to both Bengali and Assamese-speaking Hindus, Muslims and tribes, has witnessed decades of anti-immigration movement targeting “outsiders” from neighbouring Bangladesh. The BJP in Assam frequently accuses Muslims of being undocumented immigrants.
Since securing power in Assam in 2016, the BJP has integrated Hindu and tribal voter bases through a series of policies that critics describe Muslims as discriminatory. Prime Minister Himanta Biswa Salma is one of the senior party leaders who repeatedly selected the community in public speeches.
Islamophobia allegations in the BJP head to the party: Human Rights Watch report found that Modi made Islamophobic remarks in 110 of 173 speeches he released during the 2024 general election campaign.
On Sunday, Modi visited Assam where he denounced the Congress in favor of “anti-state” and “infringers” and defended the vote. Both conditions are Hindu nationalist dog whist.
BJP's Assam forces have repeatedly targeted Gogoy Muslims in the state and congressional assembly through AI-generated videos. In many cases, this explanation refers to Muslims as “Kangulus.” This is what Gogoi, a mildly rogic slur used to refer to the people of Bangladeshi, calls it the “Messiah of Miya.” “Miya” is commonly used as an honor for Muslim men in South Asia. In Assam, the term took on the mild meaning, targeting Muslims who had migrated from eastern Bengal, now Bangladesh, after the partition in 1947.
The BJP is also known to share an AI-generated video depicting Gogoi wearing a skull cap and speaks on the phone with Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir. The BJP claims Gogoi has ties to Pakistan. This is an argument that was dismissed by lawmakers.
Salma on Friday said the state cabinet will discuss reports by a special investigation team on alleged links with Pakistan after the local elections. He argued that the 96-page report submitted to the government was a “very explosive” document related to India's security.
Gogoi previously claimed that he visited Pakistan about 12 years ago and that the BJP “flops miserably.”
