A Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta issued notices to both parties after hearing on an application urging the Court to direct an immediate take-down of the video to curb the spread of communal propaganda and potential unrest.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the responses from social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and the Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on a plea demanding the removal of an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated video that allegedly depicts a “Muslim takeover” of the state in the event the ruling party loses the upcoming assembly elections.
A Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta issued notices to both parties after hearing on an application urging the Court to direct an immediate take-down of the video to curb the spread of communal propaganda and potential unrest.
Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Nizam Pasha submitted that the video forms part of the BJP’s election campaign in Assam and carries a divisive and inflammatory message. “It shows that if a particular political party is voted out of power, a particular community will take over the state. The visuals depict men wearing skullcaps and beards,” he told the Bench, pressing for criminal action against those responsible for circulating such content.
According to the petition, the controversial video was posted on X on September 15 from the official handle of the BJP’s Assam unit. It allegedly portrays Muslim individuals taking over key sites in the state — including Guwahati airport, tea gardens, Rang Ghar, and government land — in a hypothetical scenario where the BJP loses power. The plea described the video as “communal” and fear-inducing for political gain.
The petitioner further alleged that the content violates the secular fabric of the Constitution, stating that, “The ruling dispensation in Assam, being bound by constitutional principles, is obligated to uphold secularism as part of the basic structure. Yet the video shared through its official account openly demonises and vilifies Muslims, suggesting that the state’s downfall would result from their takeover.”
The plea also underscored that such conduct from a political organisation represents a serious breach of public duty, noting that even private citizens are legally prohibited from engaging in speech that foments communal discord. “The obligation to remain fair, just, and secular rests most heavily on elected governments,” the application stated, accusing the ruling party of showing “complete disregard” for this constitutional responsibility.
The petition highlighted the viral reach of the post, pointing out that it had been viewed 4.6 million times, reposted over 6,000 times, and liked more than 19,000 times within three days of publication. “Its wide circulation makes immediate removal essential to prevent further communal polarisation,” it said.
The plea forms part of a pending public interest litigation seeking nationwide measures against hate speech and hate crimes.
