Lagatar24 Desk
Guwahati: The Assam Congress has landed in controversy after senior leader Bidhu Bhushan Das allegedly sang Bangladesh’s national anthem “Amar Sonar Bangla, Ami Tomay Bhalobashi” during a programme in the Barak Valley region. A video of the incident went viral, prompting sharp criticism from the BJP and sparking a political firestorm.
BJP Slams Congress, Demands Inquiry
The incident reportedly took place on Monday during a Congress Seva Dal meeting at Indira Bhavan in Sribhumi district, where Das—former district Seva Dal president—sang the song. BJP leader and Assam minister Krishnendu Paul condemned the act, saying, “A Congress leader sang Bangladesh’s national anthem. This shows Congress can do anything. They don’t even know what to sing.” He also announced plans to demand a police investigation into the incident.
Congress Defends Its Leader
In response, the Congress downplayed the controversy. Shahadat Ahmed Choudhury, head of the district Congress media cell, defended Das, clarifying that he did not sing Bangladesh’s national anthem but performed a Rabindra Sangeet composed by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Choudhury said, “Before his speech, Mr. Das had clearly mentioned he would begin with a Rabindra Sangeet. Accusing him of singing a foreign anthem is completely wrong.”
Ravi Tagore’s Legacy Misunderstood: Gaurav Gogoi
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi also hit back at the BJP, stating that the song, written by Tagore in 1905, reflects Bengali culture and emotion, not political allegiance. “The BJP has always insulted Bengali language and culture. By attacking this song, they’ve shown ignorance of Rabindranath Tagore’s history,” Gogoi said, accusing the BJP of using divisive politics for votes.
BJP’s National Reaction
Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying the incident reflects the INDI alliance’s vote-bank politics. He wrote, “Those who once said ‘Pakistan, tu mera bhai jaan,’ now openly glorify Bangladesh on stage. Congress has always stood shoulder to shoulder with infiltrators, and now they’re singing Bangladesh’s national anthem to prove it.”
