BJP vs Congress after Bangladesh anthem at Assam event sparks row

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vs Indian National Congress: Anthem Row in Assam’s Barak Valley

By The Vagabond News Editor – Sudhir Choudhary

What triggered the row

In a meeting of the party-wing Seva Dal in the Sribhumi (formerly Karimganj) district of Assam on October 27, 2025, senior Congress leader Bidhu Bhushan Das reportedly opened proceedings by singing the lines of the song Amar Sonar Bangla — widely recognized as the national anthem of Bangladesh. (The Economic Times)
The incident sparked a political tempest, with the Assam unit of the BJP raising accusations of political appeasement and national-symbol disrespect. Meanwhile, the Congress defended the act as a cultural tribute to Bengali heritage rather than an endorsement of foreign national sentiment.

What BJP is saying

The Assam BJP unit called the incident “proof” of the Congress’s “Greater Bangladesh” agenda, accusing the party of encouraging demographic change in the region for votes. (India Today)
State minister Himanta Biswa Sarma ordered that a treason‐case inquiry be initiated, stating the act was a “blatant insult” to national pride and suggested the Congress was aligning with Bangladesh’s claim on Northeast India. (ABP Live)
On social media, BJP‐handles described the Congress as “Bangladesh-obsessed” and accused it of treating the national anthem of a neighbouring country as their own. (India Today)

What Congress is saying

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi responded that the song in question was written by India’s own Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in 1905 — decades before Bangladesh’s independence — and is part of the Bengali cultural heritage, not a political statement. (www.ndtv.com)
A party official clarified that Das had begun with “Rabindra Sangeet” (Tagore’s Bengali songs) and asserted that he hoists the Indian national flag each Independence Day, stressing there was no intention of disrespect. (Outlook India)
The Congress accused the BJP of manufacturing the row ahead of elections, claiming the controversy is aimed at distracting from other issues. (India TV News)

Why this matters

The incident touches on identity, border dynamics and cultural politics in Assam’s Barak Valley region — a Bengali-speaking belt adjacent to Bangladesh where issues of migration, language and allegiance often carry high sensitivity.
It raises questions over how cultural expressions (like a Tagore song) can become politicised when cross-border linguistic and ethnic ties are involved.
The row has implications for both parties ahead of elections — the BJP framing itself as defender of national symbols, the Congress seeking to maintain support among Bengali-speaking voters by emphasising cultural rights.

Next steps to watch

Whether the Assam police lodge formal treason charges as ordered by the Chief Minister, and how the courts respond.
How local public opinion in Sribhumi/Barak Valley reacts — will Bengali-language and culture groups align with either side?
Whether this controversy will influence candidate selection, alliances or campaign messaging in the region.
How this episode intersects with broader Assam debates on illegal migration, citizenship and demographic change.