Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has directed police to file treason charges against Congress members in Sribhumi district after a video surfaced showing a senior party functionary singing Bangladesh's national anthem at a meeting. The incident has ignited a political firestorm, with the Chief Minister condemning the act as a grave insult to national sentiments and linking it to a "Greater Bangladesh" narrative.
The controversy stems from a Congress Seva Dal meeting in Sribhumi where Bidhu Bhushan Das, a senior Congress leader, reportedly sang "Amar Sonar Bangla, Ami Tomay Bhalobasi," the national anthem of Bangladesh. The song, penned by Rabindranath Tagore in 1905 during the Swadeshi movement, was adopted by Bangladesh as its national anthem in 1971.
CM Sarma has linked the incident to a "Pakistan-backed project," citing a recent event in Dhaka where a book with a map appearing to include the northeast as part of Bangladesh was gifted to a Pakistani General. He stated that performing Bangladesh's national anthem instead of India's is an anti-national activity that cannot be tolerated. He has directed the Assam Police to register a case against the District Congress Committee of Sribhumi under appropriate sections of law and to initiate immediate and strict action.
In response, Congress leaders have defended the singing of the Tagore song, asserting that it predates Bangladesh's independence and represents Bengali cultural identity. They accuse the BJP of manufacturing controversies to distract the public and disrespecting Bengali language and culture. Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi stated that the song reflects Bengali cultural pride and accused the BJP of consistently disrespecting the Bengali language and culture. Shahadat Ahmed Choudhury, chairperson of the media department of the Karimganj (Sribhumi) district Congress committee, clarified that Das had only sung a Rabindra Sangeet, not Bangladesh's anthem. He said that Das began his speech by stating he would start with a Rabindra Sangeet and that he is a respected leader who hoists the Indian flag at Indira Bhavan every Independence Day.
Fishery Minister Krishnendu Paul criticized the act, claiming it reflected the Congress party's affinity for Bangladesh. He stated that Congress gave birth to Pakistan, and Bangladesh was part of that country, so singing its national anthem shows their love for the neighboring nation.
The BJP has accused the Congress of appeasing Bangladeshi infiltrators and indulging in vote-bank politics. State minister Ashok Singhal claimed that the Congress had allowed the singing of the anthem of a country that seeks to separate the northeast from India and has encouraged illegal infiltration into Assam for political gain.
The incident has sparked sharp reactions on social media, with some users describing the act as treason and calling for swift action against those involved. Others have criticized the Congress, alleging that the party supports anything against the nation and aims to turn Assam into Bangladesh.
The controversy highlights Assam's sensitive linguistic and cultural balance, where Bengali-speaking communities coexist alongside various ethnic and indigenous groups. The Assam government has ordered an inquiry into the incident, and the situation remains tense as political parties trade accusations.
