Congress MP from northeastern region Ripun Bora has moved a private member resolution in the Rajya Sabha to replace the word "Sindh" in the national anthem with the "North-East” saying there is no point "glorifying" a place of a hostile nation.
Bora, a Rajya Sabha member and also Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President, said when the national anthem was adopted in 1950, the then President Rajendra Prasad had said if required the anthem would be amended in future.
"There is no mention of the Northeast in the national anthem but has the mention of Sindh, which is now part of Pakistan. Why are we glorifying a place of a hostile nation. There is no point," Bora said talking to media later.
Bora said since the then President had said the national anthem could be amended, it should be done now to replace the word "Sindh' with the word "Northeast". The Congress leader said he has moved the private member resolution in the Upper House on Friday and it is expected to be taken up next week.
The World Sindhi Congress (WSC), however, contended that though Sindh is a part of Pakistan now, most Sindhis do not associate themselves with it.
lakhu luhana of WSC said, "Tagore had in-depth knowledge of history and so he put in Sindh in the national anthem. Can any sane nation remove basis of its civilizationIJ The answer is no."
"The word Hind came from nowhere, Sindh is the word and is the basis for Hind, Hindustan. Entire sub continent of Bharat is on the basis of Indus civilization," he said.