BJP deletes video showing Himanta Sarma shooting targets wearing Muslim caps after backlash
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party deleted a controversial video shared by its Assam unit on X following widespread criticism online. The move came after the post triggered outrage for allegedly promoting hate and violence against Muslims.
Soon after the video was taken down, the Congress Kerala Unit launched a sharp attack on the ruling party. In a post on X, the Congress shared a screenshot of the deleted video and criticised the BJP for what it described as hate-driven messaging.
“Dear hate factory @BJP4India, It’s not enough if you eat what you vomitted. Do a Savarkar too. APOLOGIZE!” the Congress Kerala Unit said in its post.
The now-deleted video, originally shared by BJP Assam, had shown Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma using an air rifle to shoot at targets depicted as Muslim men, accompanied by clips from a film and the caption “Point blank shot”. The post had drawn heavy criticism from opposition leaders, journalists, and civil society members, who termed it hate speech and accused the party of inciting violence.
The post had garnered lakhs of views before it was removed. The BJP has not issued any official statement explaining the video or the deletion.
Dear hate factory @BJP4India,
— Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) February 8, 2026
It's not enough if you eat what you vomitted. Do a Savarkar too. APOLOGIZE! pic.twitter.com/iX2EOuwlT4
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Trump says EU has until July 4 to approve last year's trade deal or it will face higher tariffs
Washington (AP): President Donald Trump has said in a social media post that goods from the European Union would face higher tariff rates if the 27-member bloc fails to approve last year's trade framework by July 4.
The announcement on Thursday appeared to be a deadline extension after the president said last Friday that EU autos would face a higher 25 per cent tariff starting this week. Trump made the updated announcement after what he described as a "great call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Still, the US president was displeased that the European Parliament had yet to finalize the trade arrangement reached last year, which was further complicated in February by the US Supreme Court ruling that Trump lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency to impose the initial tariffs used to pressure the EU into talks.
"A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of the Deal and, as per Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO!" Trump posted. "I agreed to give her until our Country's 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels."
It was unclear from the post whether Trump was implying that the tariff rates would jump on all EU goods or the increase would only apply to autos.
His latest statement indicates he might be backing away from his earlier threat on EU autos by giving the European Parliament several more weeks to approve the agreement.
Under the original terms of the framework, the US would charge a 15 per cent tax on most goods imported from the EU.
But since the Supreme Court ruling, the administration has levied a 10 per cent tariff while investigating trade imbalances and national security issues, aiming to put in new tariffs to make up for lost revenues.
