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Guwahati, Oct 29 (IANS) The Assam government on Wednesday ordered an inquiry after a video purportedly showing a senior Congress leader singing Bangladesh’s national anthem, Amar Sonar Bangla, during a party meeting in Sribhoomi district went viral, triggering a political controversy in the state.
According to reports, the incident took place on October 27 during the Congress Seva Dal meeting at Indira Bhawan, the party’s district office in Sribhoomi.
In the video, 85-year-old Congress leader and poet Vidhu Bhushan Das is seen rendering a few lines from the song, Amar Sonar Bangla, written by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, who also wrote India’s national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.
After the video went viral, Assam Fisheries Minister Krishnendu Paul directed the district administration to confirm the incident.
“We have received verbal instructions from the minister to investigate and verify the facts,” said a senior district official.
Minister Paul alleged that the incident reflected the Congress party’s “affinity towards Bangladesh”, commenting, “Congress gave birth to Pakistan, and Bangladesh was part of that country. Singing its national anthem shows its love for the neighboring country.”
He said that legal action will be taken if the allegations are proved.
Reacting to the controversy, Shribhoomi District Congress President Tapas Purkayastha dismissed the allegations as politically motivated.
He said, “Don’t do politics with Rabindranath Tagore. Our respected senior leader sang only two lines of Tagore’s composition. Calling it anti-national is an insult to Tagore himself.”
Assam Congress President Gaurav Gogoi also defended the leader and accused the BJP of trying to divert public attention through fabricated controversies.
He said, “This song reflects Bengali cultural pride. BJP has continuously insulted Bengali language and culture.”
On the other hand, the BJP criticized the Congress for “appeasing Bangladeshi infiltrators” and indulging in “vote-bank politics”.
The controversy has once again highlighted the delicate linguistic and cultural balance in Assam, where Bengali-speaking communities co-exist with different ethnic and indigenous groups.
–IANS
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