Assam CM Cracks Down on ‘Anthem’ Chant at College Fest: Treason Probe Launched Amid Cultural Clash

Row Erupts Over Bengali Song Sung in Bangladesh’s National Anthem Style at Assam Event

Guwahati – A cultural expression at a university festival has snowballed into a major political storm in Assam, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma directing authorities to slap treason charges on students who led chants of a Bengali song revered as Bangladesh’s national anthem. The incident, which unfolded during a Durga Puja celebration at Gauhati University, has pitted regional sensitivities against claims of innocent artistic pride, drawing sharp rebukes from opposition leaders who decry it as an overreach stifling cultural diversity.

The controversy ignited on October 25 when videos surfaced online showing a group of students, dressed in traditional attire, passionately singing “Amar Sonar Bangla” – the opening lines of Rabindranath Tagore’s iconic poem that forms the basis of Bangladesh’s national anthem. The rendition, complete with synchronized gestures mimicking an anthem ceremony, was part of the post-pandal festivities following the university’s annual Durga Puja immersion. Eyewitnesses described the atmosphere as jubilant, with participants viewing it as a nod to shared Bengali heritage in a state where the community forms a significant minority.

However, the footage quickly went viral, sparking outrage among Assamese nationalists who interpreted the act as a provocative display of allegiance to Bangladesh, especially amid ongoing border tensions and debates over illegal migration from the neighboring country. Assam BJP leaders amplified the videos on social media, labeling it a “brazen anti-national stunt” that undermines the state’s sovereignty.

In a swift response, Sarma, known for his hardline stance on issues of identity and infiltration, convened an emergency meeting with police and university officials. “This is not mere singing; it’s a deliberate attempt to glorify a foreign anthem on Indian soil, potentially sedition under the law,” the chief minister asserted during a press briefing in Dispur. He instructed the Kamrup Metro Police to register a First Information Report (FIR) under sections of the Indian Penal Code related to sedition and promoting enmity between groups. At least five students, including the lead singer identified as a postgraduate from a Kolkata college on exchange, have been summoned for questioning, with assurances of “zero tolerance” for such displays.

Sarma further linked the episode to larger concerns, referencing recent intelligence reports on cross-border cultural influences fueling separatist sentiments. “Assam will not become a playground for external narratives. Our youth must celebrate Indian culture, not echo anthems from across the fence,” he added, urging educational institutions to enforce stricter guidelines on event programming.

#### Congress Slams ‘Draconian’ Move, Defends Song as Symbol of Unity

The opposition Congress has mounted a fierce counterattack, accusing the BJP government of weaponizing patriotism to suppress minority voices in the Northeast. State Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah condemned the treason directive as “absurd and authoritarian,” emphasizing that the song predates Bangladesh’s independence and embodies Tagore’s vision of a golden Bengal undivided by borders.

“This is cultural pride, not treason. ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’ is a UNESCO-recognized heritage piece sung by Bengalis worldwide, including in India, to honor their roots during festivals like Durga Puja. Singling it out reeks of linguistic majoritarianism,” Borah stated in a statement released from party headquarters. He highlighted that similar renditions occur annually in Barak Valley’s Bengali-dominated districts without incident, questioning why a university event has triggered such escalation.

Senior Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi echoed these sentiments on X, posting: “Sarma’s Assam: Where a Tagore poem becomes a terror threat. Time to protect pluralism, not police poetry.” The party has announced plans for statewide protests and a delegation to meet the governor, demanding the FIR’s withdrawal and an apology to the students.

Legal experts are divided. Constitutional scholar Aparna Mahanta from Gauhati University opined that while the gesture might be tone-deaf in the current climate, invoking sedition – a colonial-era provision under judicial scrutiny – could backfire in court. “Freedom of expression under Article 19 allows cultural performances unless there’s clear intent to incite violence,” she noted. On the flip side, retired IPS officer R.K. Sharma supported the probe, arguing that symbolic acts in sensitive border regions warrant vigilance to prevent escalation.

Echoes of Deeper Divides in Assam’s Multicultural Mosaic

This flare-up underscores Assam’s perennial tug-of-war between Assamese sub-nationalism and the rights of its 30% Bengali-speaking population, many descendants of pre-Partition migrants. Past flashpoints, from the 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act protests to language policy rows, have often amplified such cultural skirmishes into existential debates. With assembly elections looming in 2026, analysts see the timing as politically charged, with the BJP aiming to consolidate its “sons-of-the-soil” base.

As investigations proceed, Gauhati University has postponed upcoming cultural events pending a review committee’s report, leaving students caught in the crossfire. “We meant no harm; it was just a fun tribute to our heritage,” one anonymous participant shared with local media, voice trembling. In a state where festivals bridge divides, this anthem row serves as a stark reminder: In the symphony of India’s Northeast, one wrong note can drown out the harmony.