West Bengal Assembly declares Poila Baishakh as foundation day and Tagore song as state anthem

The Opposition BJP wants June 20 to be observed as Bangla Diwas, as suggested by the central government.

The resolution to observe Poila Baisakh as Bangla Diwas and accept the Tagore song as the state song was proposed by minister Shovandev Chattopadhyay, Sashi Panja and other ruling MLAs. (Express Photo: Partha Paul)

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In a 167-62 vote, the West Bengal Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution making Poila Baishakh, the first day of the Bengali calendar, the statehood day and declaring Rabindranath Tagore’s Banglar Mati Banglar Jol as the state anthem.

The Opposition BJP opposed the resolution and wanted the government to accept the Centre’s proposal to observe June 20 as the statehood day. “This proposal will not also see the light of the day like the proposal to rename the state as Bangla, the proposal of Bidhan Parishad and many others. I will go to the Raj Bhavan and request the governor not to give ascent to the proposal,” Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said. “With the power of the majority, you can change the date but you can not change the history.”

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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee countered Adhikari’s statement. “Anybody may not approve our proposal but people will accept and celebrate Poila Baishakh as Paschimbangla Dibas,” the Trinamool Congress leader said.

“I support the proposal to make Rabindranath Tagore’s Banglar Mati Banglar Jol the official song of Bengal. The people of Bengal do not support June 20, which is synonymous with violence and bloodshed that marked the partition (of Bengal), as the state foundation day,” Banerjee said while speaking on the resolution.

The resolution to observe Poila Baisakh as Bangla Diwas and accept the Tagore song as the state song was proposed by minister Shovandev Chattopadhyay, Sashi Panja and other ruling MLAs.

One MLA abstained from voting on the resolution tabled under Rule 169.

Atri Mitra

Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More

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