SC issues notices to X, Assam BJP over viral Islamophobic AI video
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The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to micro-blogging platform X and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Assam unit over a plea seeking the removal of a controversial AI-generated video posted by the party.
The video, shared on the Assam BJP’s official X handle on September 15, allegedly claimed that Assam could face a “Muslim takeover” if the saffron party loses next year’s Assembly elections.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta heard the matter and sought responses from both X and the Assam BJP, scheduling the next hearing for October 28. The petition was filed by journalist Qurban Ali and senior advocate Anjana Prakash.
Advocate Nizam Pasha, appearing for the petitioners, said the video formed part of the BJP’s election campaign and “openly targets, vilifies and demonises Muslims,” violating previous Supreme Court directions on curbing hate speech.
The plea stated, “As the ruling dispensation, BJP-Assam is constitutionally obligated to uphold the secular values enshrined in the basic structure of the Constitution. However, the video circulated from its official handle blatantly targets, vilifies, and demonises Muslims, while seeking public support on the premise that re-electing the BJP would ‘save’ the state from such a scenario.”
The petition also argued that a suo motu case should have been registered in line with the Supreme Court’s earlier directions in petitions against inflammatory speech.