'Amar Sonar Bangla is an emotion': Bengal leaders hit back at BJP over anthem row

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and the West Bengal Congress have strongly criticised the Assam BJP government for threatening sedition charges against Congress leaders who sang Amar Sonar Bangla - now Bangladesh's national anthem - at a party event in Sribhumi.

According to a report by The Telegraph India, the controversy began after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accused the Congress of showing "disrespect" to India by singing "the national song of Bangladesh" instead of the Indian national anthem.

Responding to the allegation, Mahua Moitra wrote on X, "Amar Sonar Bangla song penned by Tagore in 1905 to protest Bengal's partition by the British. First 10 lines adopted as Bangladesh national anthem only in 1971. 'Amar Sonar Bangla' is an emotion for all us Bengalis. Neither saffron chaddis nor their paid troll media will ever get it!"

The West Bengal Congress unit also issued a statement condemning the BJP's comments, calling them "an insult to Bengal's cultural and emotional heritage."

"'Amar Sonar Bangla' is the Soul of Bengal and a Symbol of Unity," the party wrote on X, describing the song as "one of the most cherished creations of Nobel Laureate Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore."

The Congress further explained that Tagore composed Amar Sonar Bangla in 1905 as a protest against the British decision under Lord Curzon to partition Bengal. "It emerged as a symbol of unity and defiance during the Swadeshi Movement, representing the collective identity and hope of Bengal," the statement said.

"When Bangladesh achieved independence in 1971, the newly formed nation chose 'Amar Sonar Bangla' as its national anthem; a fitting tribute to the song that had once inspired unity and resistance against oppression," it added.

The controversy stems from a Congress Seva Dal meeting held on 27 October at Indira Bhavan in Sribhumi, where Congress leader and poet Vidhu Bhushan Das performed a few lines from Amar Sonar Bangla.

Reacting sharply, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Two days ago the district Congress unit of Sribhumi played the national song of Bangladesh instead of the national anthem of India. This is a blatant disrespect to the people of India and its national anthem."

He further alleged, "This is in line with the claim of the leading citizens of Bangladesh that Northeast India will be eventually part of Bangladesh. We see this claim as an endorsement by various Bangladesh citizens, organs of the government that Northeast is their part and parcel."

Congress leader Satu Roy, responding to the state government's decision to probe the incident, said, "We sang Bangladesh national anthem out of love for Rabindranath Tagore. BJP trying to change the meaning of 'treason' and 'patriotism'."

The Congress accused the BJP and its allies of "sheer ignorance of history" and urged them to respect Bengal's shared cultural roots.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi also weighed in, saying, "It is a song composed by Rabindranath Tagore and conveys the sentiments of Bengali culture. The BJP has always insulted the Bengali language, Bengali culture and the people of Bengal. They have shown ignorance by not knowing the history of Rabindranath Tagore."