The Congress on Sunday sought immediate judicial intervention after an official Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) social media handle shared a video that the opposition claims depicts a “point-blank” killing of minorities, triggering a major political controversy.
The video, which was widely circulated online before being deleted, allegedly contains graphic visuals of violence that critics say glorify the killing of individuals from minority communities. The Congress described the content as “deeply disturbing” and accused the ruling party of promoting hatred and normalising extreme violence.
“This is not an isolated troll post or an anonymous provocation,” Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said in a post on X. “This poison is being spread from the very top. Sharing visuals of point-blank murder amounts to an open call for genocide — something this fascist regime has ideologically nurtured for decades.”
Several opposition leaders echoed similar concerns, arguing that the post cannot be dismissed as an error since it originated from a verified party handle. “There must be accountability,” an opposition spokesperson said. “When an official political platform circulates such content, it signals impunity and encouragement. This is not free speech; it is incitement.”
Legal experts also weighed in, noting that Indian law places strict restrictions on content that promotes enmity or incites violence. A Delhi-based constitutional lawyer said that if the video is found to promote violence against a protected group, it could attract provisions under the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act, with the source of the content being a crucial factor.
Opposition leaders expressed little expectation of action from the executive, directly criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what they described as a consistent failure to condemn hate speech linked to his party. “There is no hope that the Prime Minister will act or even condemn this,” Venugopal said, adding that the responsibility now rests with the judiciary.
The incident comes amid growing concern over the use of social media by political parties to circulate provocative and polarising content, especially in the run-up to elections. While courts have previously taken note of similar cases involving hate speech and violent imagery, convictions remain rare.
