A political controversy has erupted in Assam after a short artificial-intelligence (AI) generated video showing Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma firing a gun at a person described as an illegal immigrant went viral on social media earlier this month. The video, which appeared on February 7 and quickly spread across several platforms, triggered strong reactions from opposition parties, civil society groups and members of the public. It was later removed, but the political debate around it continues to grow.
The Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expelled its Social Media Co-Convenor Ron Bikash Gaurav after the controversial video was posted from the party’s social media account. However, some BJP insiders are now claiming that the issue may have been part of a deeper internal problem rather than a simple mistake. They allege that another individual, Siddharth Mazumdar, who has been informally associated with the chief minister’s social media work, may have played a larger role in the episode. These claims have not been officially confirmed by the party.
Chief Minister Sarma distanced himself from the video soon after it became public. He said the content did not reflect the official position of either the government or the party. He also clarified that his political stance has always been against illegal immigration and not against Indian Muslims or any community living in the state.
Several BJP leaders, speaking privately, said that Ron Bikash Gaurav might have been made a scapegoat and that the controversy may have been the result of deliberate sabotage. According to these leaders, the timing of the video’s release was particularly sensitive because the party had recently launched strong political attacks against the opposition. They believe the controversy shifted public attention away from those issues and created unnecessary damage for the party.
The focus of their suspicion has turned toward Siddharth Mazumdar because of his past political associations and shifting professional roles. Political sources say Mazumdar earlier worked with senior Congress leaders, including the late Ahmed Patel, who was a key strategist in the Congress party. He was also reportedly involved in social media and campaign activities linked to Congress leaders during earlier elections before later becoming associated with the current political establishment in Assam. Mazumdar has denied all allegations and has said that he has no official role with the Assam BJP.
Mazumdar’s name had earlier appeared in national news in 2022 in connection with the Jharkhand MLA cash case, where three Congress legislators were arrested in West Bengal with a large amount of unexplained cash. During that investigation, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal reportedly attempted to question Mazumdar and conduct a search at his residence. However, there was no formal charge filed against him, and the matter did not proceed further. Even so, BJP insiders are now pointing to that earlier episode while raising questions about the current controversy.
Political observers say the incident has once again highlighted the growing influence of social media teams in modern politics and the risks involved when digital communication is not carefully monitored. Over the past few years, leaders across parties have increasingly relied on social media managers and communication agencies to handle their online presence. While this approach helps leaders reach a wider audience, it also creates the possibility of mistakes or misuse if strict checks are not in place.
Opposition parties have strongly criticised the viral video and accused the ruling party of using divisive content at a time when the state is moving toward another assembly election cycle expected next year. Some opposition leaders have also approached the courts seeking action over the issue. On February 10, the Supreme Court agreed to consider listing a petition filed by Left leaders asking for legal action related to the video.
Within the BJP, however, the main discussion appears to be focused on internal management of communication channels. Senior leaders are said to be reviewing how social media accounts are handled and who has access to official digital platforms. Party sources say there is concern that even a single controversial post can quickly turn into a national issue, especially when it involves senior political figures.
When contacted for comment, Siddharth Mazumdar rejected the allegations against him and stated that the Assam BJP should respond to the matter officially. He said the claims linking him to the video were “fake allegations” and added that the chief minister manages his own official social media accounts. Ron Bikash Gaurav has also denied that he personally uploaded the video, while party leaders have described the matter as an internal organisational issue.