The release of an election campaign video by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam, featuring Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has sparked outrage across India and even attracted reactions from Arab social media users. The video, titled 'Bullets from Close Range,' shows Sarma brandishing a gun and aiming it at a target that clearly resembles Muslim individuals. This act has been interpreted as a provocation that stirs religious tensions and prompts accusations of incitement to violence against the Muslim community.

The video includes alarming imagery created by artificial intelligence, portraying imagery of bullets hitting figures with beards and caps — common representations of Muslims. Additionally, phrases such as 'Assam free of foreigners' and 'No mercy' appear onscreen, drawing criticism as overtly communal and inflammatory. Following the video's release, political and media outrage erupted, focusing on the BJP's role in fostering an environment hostile to Muslims, leading to calls for accountability and condemnation of the party's tactics.

In the wake of the backlash, the BJP promptly deleted the video from its official platforms, while the incident raised significant concerns about the implications of such deliberately provocative content in political campaigns. Critics are questioning the party's ethical stance and its potential impact on community relations, as well as the broader question of political rhetoric and its consequences in an already polarized society. This episode serves as a reminder of the volatile intersection of politics and communal identities in India today.