Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said he had instructed police to register a sedition case against those involved, calling the act “an insult to India and its national anthem.”
Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Sarma accused the Congress of endorsing Bangladeshi claims that parts of the Northeast belong to Bangladesh, warning that strict action would follow. “Those responsible will be arrested soon. Such anti-national behaviour will not be tolerated,” he said.
The controversy
The incident came to light after a video from the Congress Seva Dal meeting went viral on social media. The clip appeared to show participants beginning the session by singing a few lines from “Amar Sonar Bangla,” Bangladesh’s national anthem written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1905 during the partition of Bengal.
Tagore, notably, also penned India’s national anthem “Jana Gana Mana.” In the video, only a few attendees could be seen standing while others remained seated.
Congress response
Defending the act, Sribhumi District Congress President Tapas Purkayastha said it was not political but a tribute to Tagore. “Our 85-year-old poet, Bidhu Bhushan Das, sang two lines only to honour Tagore. Opposing this is an insult to the great poet,” he said.
State Congress President Gaurav Gogoi accused the BJP of manufacturing controversy to distract from governance failures. “The BJP is diverting attention from real public issues by creating unnecessary uproar,” Gogoi said.
BJP’s counterattack
Rejecting the explanation, CM Sarma said Gogoi should have immediately suspended those involved. “Congress has now turned into a supporter of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Their actions clearly align with foreign interests,” he alleged.
Fisheries Minister Krishnendu Paul echoed the sentiment, stating, “Congress created Pakistan, and Bangladesh was once part of Pakistan. Singing Bangladesh’s anthem only reflects their continued affection for that country.”
He added that the District Commissioner had been directed to verify the video and initiate legal proceedings against the responsible individuals
