SC to hear plea for removal of 'anti-Muslim' video

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a plea seeking directions to social media platform X and the official handle of the BJP’s Assam unit to remove a video that allegedly “openly targets, vilifies and demonises Muslims”.A Bench led by Justice Vikram Nath issued notice on the application and posted it for hearing on October 28.

The application, filed in a pending matter relating to hate speech, alleged that the BJP’s Assam unit on September 15, circulated a video showing a “grossly false narrative that depicts the takeover of Assam by Muslims if the BJP doesn't remain in power in the state” on its X handle.

It sought directions to X India Pvt Ltd and the party for taking down of the video posted on the social media platform, saying the video depicted the consequences of a change in the present ruling dispensation and shows visibly Muslim people (wearing skull caps and burqas) taking over tea estates, Guwahati airport and Guwahati town.

“It is submitted that as the ruling dispensation is bound by the Constitution and thereby is bound to uphold the secular values that form part of the basic structure of the Constitution. However, the video circulated by it openly targets, vilifies and demonises Muslims,” states the plea filed through advocate Lzafeer Ahmad.