West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said anyone who wants to stay in India must speak the national anthem [1].

The statement arrives during a period of heightened political tension in the state. The remarks specifically address a row over the status and usage of the patriotic song "Vande Mataram" in West Bengal [1].

Adhikari spoke June 2, 2026 [1], during a visit to the Hooghly district. While the primary purpose of the trip was for administrative engagements, the chief minister also visited a local temple. "The visit to Tarakeshwar was primarily an administrative engagement, but as a devotee, I could not miss seeking the darshan of Baba Mahadev," Adhikari said [1].

During the engagement, the chief minister issued a warning regarding national loyalty. He said, "देश में रहना है तो जन गण मन अधिनायक बोलना होगा" — which translates to a requirement that those living in the country must recite the opening lines of the national anthem [1].

The controversy surrounding "Vande Mataram" has become a focal point for political debate in the region. By linking residency in India to the recitation of "Jana Gana Mana," Adhikari has tied the current local dispute to a broader definition of national identity, and civic duty [1].

“"देश में रहना है तो जन गण मन अधिनायक बोलना होगा"”

This statement reflects a deepening of the ideological divide in West Bengal regarding national symbols. By framing the recitation of the national anthem as a prerequisite for residency, the chief minister is shifting the debate from a specific dispute over one song to a broader question of national allegiance and identity.