AI-Generated Violence: A Feature, Not a Glitch
When an AI-generated video surfaced depicting Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shooting Muslims, with the BJP's Assam unit disseminating it before deletion, it underscored a critical pivot in how political narratives are constructed and propagated. THE ACTORS: Who benefits from digital dehumanization? The primary actor is Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister of Assam, a member of the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP itself, and its various state-level appendages, are central. Sarma has a documented history of rhetoric targeting Muslims, often framing them as 'immigrants' or a 'threat' to indigenous populations in Assam. For example, in 2021, he stated that 'no land will be available for illegal Bangladeshi migrants anymore,' a statement widely interpreted as targeting
Bengali-speaking Muslims (Economic Times, 2021). The deliberate use of an AI-generated video transcends mere rhetoric; it visually simulates an outcome long desired by some segments of the Hindu nationalist base, making the unthinkable appear digitally tangible. THE FUNDING: Political Capital and Media Reach The ‘funding’ here isn't direct monetary flow for the video's creation, but the immense
political capital gained from appealing to a radicalized voter base. Election cycles in India, particularly in states like Assam with significant demographic shifts, often see politicians amplify anti-minority sentiment to consolidate Hindu votes. The BJP's electoral campaigns are among the most well-funded globally, with reports indicating the party received over ₹2,120 crore (approximately $250