Earlier this week, BJP Assam’s official X handle posted an AI-generated video showing a Muslim-majority Assam, with the caption: “Assam without BJP.” It sends a message that reduces an entire community to a threat in a generalised way, and tells people that the very existence of an entire group means danger. Technology here is being used not to imagine a better future, but to rehearse the same old fears in sharper, shinier form.
As expected, the video has sparked controversy, with the state Congress even filing a police complaint on Thursday. Meanwhile, Assam government spokesperson Pijush Hazarika rushed to defend it, claiming it was only about the “threat of illegal immigrants” and their impact on Assam’s demography. But if that’s really the case, why not look into it when people call out the communal undertones?
If the issue is illegal migration, then the message should have been clear and direct, without dressing it up in imagery that paints an entire community as a menace. The defence collapses the moment you look at the content itself—it doesn’t feel like a message about illegality, it feels like a message about identity.
The official BJP Assam handle has not stopped at one video. More clips have followed, this time with the tag “Paaijaan” and flashing images of minority communities at Congress rallies, as if their very presence were a threat. Another shows a Muslim pretending to be a Hindu. This is the party’s own verified account pushing a communal agenda in plain sight.
Paaijaan's dream "Bor Axom" is nothing but a paradise for the Kanglus. pic.twitter.com/m1VBhnyZyi
— BJP Assam Pradesh (@BJP4Assam) September 18, 2025
And maybe that is the point. Because let’s be honest: if the intention were only to warn about illegal migration, the BJP has the machinery and media to convey that without ambiguity. What speaks louder is what they actually chose to post. It’s less about solving the issue, more about feeding their base. After all, what easier way to hold on to power than to remind voters of a fear, draw a line between “us” and “them,” and present yourself as the only barrier? It’s not a promise to deliver, it’s a promise to protect from an enemy.
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Here is the real question—when the talk is about illegal immigrants in Assam, why does the imagination of BJP Assam’s account immediately stop at Muslims? Even the National Register of Citizens (NRC) data tells a different story.
Out of the nearly 16 lakh names excluded from the state’s draft citizens’ list, around 7 lakh were Muslims, yes, but 5 lakh were Bengali Hindus, 2 lakh Assamese Hindus, and even 1.5 lakh Gorkhas.
Yet the message that comes out is singular, one-dimensional, and deliberately narrows the “problem” to one community. What does that say? Either they don’t want to deal with the complexity of the issue, or worse, they believe their voters don’t want to hear it.
I don’t know what the sadder part is—that this came from the official Assam BJP account, not some fringe element, or that it reflects a calculated political strategy.
Fear and division are often the quickest ways to consolidate a base, especially in regions where communal identities are politically salient. The handlers of these accounts seem to understand that highlighting a perceived threat resonates more immediately with voters than any nuanced discussion of migration or policy complexity. It is not just a moral failing, but a tactical choice rooted in the realities of electoral politics.
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Modi’s message vs ground realities
While Prime Minister Modi keeps promising “sabka saath, sabka vikas”—a message of inclusion without discrimination—BJP’s regional units often fall back on overt communal rhetoric that runs completely against this vision.
Is it due to lack of coordination within the party, or do regional leaders believe it is the quicker route to power? Either way, it seems the pursuit of votes outweighs the national interest.
There seems to be an unspoken conflict within the BJP itself— between Modi’s carefully polished image of inclusive nation-building and the rhetoric of some regional leaders who appear more interested in playing the old communal card. While Modi speaks of unity, development, and India’s global rise, leaders on the ground often reach for fear and division to secure their base. The contradiction raises a deeper question: is this a clash of visions within the party?
At the end of the day, politicians will keep playing the same game if they believe this is what wins them votes. But responsibility also lies with the voters.
If citizens keep rewarding or turning a blind eye to the generalised othering of a community, that is all they will ever be offered. But if people demand better—real governance and development—the message cannot be ignored. Until voters demand more than fear and division, politicians will keep trading in the easiest currency: the prejudice of the crowd.
Amana Begam Ansari is a columnist, writer, and TV news panellist. She runs a weekly YouTube show called ‘India This Week by Amana and Khalid’. She tweets @Amana_Ansari. Views are personal.
(Edited by Asavari Singh)