Guwahati (Assam): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday (October 29, 2025) directed the police to register a case of treason against Congress leaders of Sribhumi district for allegedly singing Bangladesh’s national anthem during a party meeting. The incident has triggered a major political row in the state, with the Congress accusing the BJP of manufacturing controversy for political gain.

CM calls it an insult to the nation

Addressing the media after a Cabinet meeting, Sarma said the act amounted to disrespect towards India and its national anthem, terming it a “blatant insult to the people of India.” He said, “The Congress meeting started with the singing of Bangladesh’s national anthem instead of the Indian national anthem. It is a blatant disrespect to the people of India and its national anthem.”

The Chief Minister added that he had already instructed the police to register a case of treason under relevant sections of the law against the Sribhumi District Congress Committee and its leaders. “The Bangladesh national anthem was performed by showing the same respect we do for our national anthem. We cannot accept singing the Bangladesh national anthem in Assam,” he said.

Sarma further alleged that the act appeared to be an endorsement of claims made by some Bangladeshi leaders that India’s northeast was historically part of Bangladesh. “It is in line with new claims of various Bangladeshi citizens that the northeast will eventually be part of Bangladesh. We see this act as an endorsement of that view,” he added.

The controversy and viral video

The controversy erupted after a video surfaced on social media showing the Congress Seva Dal meeting held on Tuesday at the Sribhumi District Congress office. In the footage, an elderly poet, Vidhu Bhushan Das, can be seen singing the opening lines of ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’, the national anthem of Bangladesh, penned by Rabindranath Tagore — who also wrote ‘Jana Gana Mana’, India’s national anthem.

According to reports, the singer was standing while reciting two lines of the anthem, while the rest of the attendees remained seated. The video quickly went viral, prompting outrage from BJP leaders and supporters.

Sarma said police had been directed to take strict legal action, and those involved would be arrested once the investigation confirmed the details.

BJP attacks Congress over ‘anti-national act’

Fisheries Minister Krishnendu Paul accused the Congress of harbouring sympathies towards Bangladesh and Pakistan. “The Congress gave birth to Pakistan, and Bangladesh was part of Pakistan. So, to show their love for Bangladesh, they sang its national anthem,” he said. He added that instructions had been issued to the district commissioner to verify the incident and proceed with legal action.

Later in the evening, Sarma continued his criticism, calling the act part of a larger anti-India mindset within the Congress. “The Congress has sent a message as if Assam is part of Bangladesh. Therefore, this Congress party is Pakistan and Bangladesh’s ‘dot dot’ party,” he said.

He also linked the incident to what he termed a “pattern” — citing earlier remarks by Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge and alleged pro-Pakistan tendencies of certain Congress leaders.

Congress defends, calls it BJP’s diversion tactic

Reacting to the allegations, Sribhumi District Congress president Tapas Purkayastha defended the act, saying the BJP was politicising Tagore’s legacy. “Don’t play politics with Rabindranath Tagore. Our pride, 85-year-old poet Vidhu Bhushan Das, sang only two lines of the song. Criticising this song means insulting Tagore himself,” he said.

Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi accused the ruling BJP of trying to divert public attention from governance issues. “The BJP is trying to politicise this incident. They are deliberately ignoring the cultural and historical context behind it,” he said.

Gogoi added that the BJP’s reaction exposed its ignorance of Bengal’s rich heritage. “They claim to respect Bengali culture but have repeatedly insulted the Bengali language and its people. They remember the Bengali-speaking community only during elections but never try to understand their culture or depth of thought,” he remarked.

Escalating war of words

In response, Sarma said Gogoi should have immediately expelled the district leaders involved in the incident if he truly respected India’s national symbols. “But Gaurav Gogoi probably liked it,” the Chief Minister said, adding that “this is a project of the Pakistan government.” He claimed that even recent geopolitical gestures from Pakistan suggested designs on Assam and Tripura being shown as parts of Bangladesh.

With both parties trading sharp barbs, the incident has deepened the political divide in Assam ahead of the upcoming local elections. While BJP leaders call the act “treasonous and unpatriotic,” the Congress maintains it was a misinterpreted cultural expression and a deliberate distraction from real issues facing the state.