Assam: Bangladesh’s national anthem played at Congress meeting, CM Himanta Sarma orders legal action

New Delhi: A major controversy has erupted over the singing of Bangladesh’s national anthem, “Amar Sonar Bangla,” at a Congress Service Team meeting in Karimganj district, Assam. After a video of the meeting, held in Sribhumi town, went viral on social media, the BJP accused the Congress of promoting an anti-national mindset and a “Greater Bangladesh” agenda. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has threatened legal action.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “Two days ago, the District Congress Committee of Sribhumi district sang Bangladesh’s national anthem, ‘Amar Sonar Bangla,’ instead of India’s national anthem. This is a blatant insult to the people of India. This is in line with the new claim being made by some Bangladeshi citizens that Northeast India will become part of Bangladesh in the future. I have directed the Assam Police to register a case against the Sribhumi District Congress Committee and take legal action.”

State Minister Ashok Singhal strongly criticized the Congress, sharing a video on Instagram. He wrote, “It is now clear why the Congress encouraged illegal Miya infiltration into Assam for decades – to change the state’s demographics and play vote bank politics. This is their ‘Greater Bangladesh’ agenda.”

The Assam unit of the BJP called the Congress “Bangladesh-obsessed.” The party wrote in the post, “Just a few days ago, Bangladesh released a map claiming the entire Northeast as its own, and now the Congress is singing that country’s national anthem in Assam. If anyone still can’t see this agenda, they are either blind or complicit.”

Claim to include India’s Northeast in the map
This controversy is also said to be linked to an incident in which Bangladesh’s interim chief, Muhammad Yunus, gifted a book to a Pakistani general, the cover of which featured a controversial map showing Assam and parts of Northeast India as part of Bangladesh. The video sparked a sharp reaction on social media. Many users called it “treason” and demanded action from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Congress criticized the BJP
Congress, meanwhile, retorted to the controversy, saying the BJP continues to insult Bengali language and culture. Party leader Gaurav Gogoi said, “The BJP’s IT cell has repeatedly mocked Bengali culture and now they are unable to understand the legacy of Rabindranath Tagore. Bengali-speaking people have now realised that the BJP only uses them for votes.”