The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice on a plea seeking directions to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and the Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to take down a video allegedly portraying a “Muslim takeover” of the state if the party is not voted back to power.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued the notice on the petition filed by journalist Qurban Ali and senior advocate Anjana Prakash, and listed the matter for further hearing on October 28.
Appearing for the petitioners, advocate Nizam Pasha told the court that the video was “posted as part of the upcoming election campaign” and “openly targets, vilifies and demonizes Muslims.” He submitted that the video features people “wearing skullcaps and beards” and argued that, under the Supreme Court’s earlier rulings on hate speech, the authorities should have initiated suo motu proceedings.
According to the plea, the video was uploaded on September 15, 2025, by the official X handle ‘BJP Assam Pradesh’. It allegedly presents a “false and communally charged narrative” that depicts Muslims “taking over tea estates, Guwahati airport, and other key landmarks” if the BJP loses power. The video also reportedly shows “illegal migrants” entering Assam and claims that the state would have a “90% Muslim population” in such a scenario.
The petition argues that as the ruling party in the state, the BJP Assam unit is constitutionally bound to uphold secular values and refrain from using divisive or inflammatory content for electoral gain. “The video circulated by its official handle openly targets, vilifies, and demonizes Muslims, seeking political support by projecting the party as the protector of the state,” the plea states.
The petitioners have sought immediate removal of the video from X, initiation of criminal proceedings under hate speech laws, and directions to ensure that political parties adhere to constitutional principles in their public communication.
The matter will next be heard on October 28, when the Supreme Court is expected to consider the responses from both X and the BJP’s Assam unit.
