Guwahati: The Assam Police have arrested singer Altaf Hussain in Dhubri for allegedly disturbing “religious and cultural harmony.”
The Bengali-Muslim singer paid the price for his song ‘Miya Bihu’.
Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to Facebook to break the news, calling Altaf’s song derogatory towards Assamese culture.
Altaf said his song was a protest against ongoing attacks on the Bengali Muslim community in Assam.
“I wrote a song protesting against the unnecessary attacks. The police said that they picked me up for this but I do not understand if I have done anything illegal,” he said.
The chief minister said a section of people was trying to popularise the ‘Miya Bihu’ concept, with Altaf being one of them.
“He has been arrested and the police are taking appropriate steps,” Biswa Sarma said.
The CM stress that they believe in peaceful co-existence.
“Our legends such as Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika taught us patience. But there is a limit to our patience and the people on the other side should understand this. They should understand the social system of this land,” Biswa Sarma said.
According to the CM, no Assamese will accept attempts to present the culture, heritage, or dance forms of the state in a distorted manner.
“I do not know for how many days I will live but until the time I am alive, I want my head to be held high, with dignity. For the sake of coexistence, we have to let go of certain things and hold on to some. But there is a limit to it and the people making such attempts need to understand this,” he stated.
Dhubri police superintendent Navin Singh said a suo motu case was registered against Altaf under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and he was produced before the court on Sunday.
“We are investigating the matter further,” said Singh without elaborating on the BNS sections.
The Assam CM has increased his attacks on Bengali Muslims even as 30 organisations issued an ultimatum asking the community to leave nine districts of Upper Assam.
Biwa Sarma last week vowed not to let Miyas “take over” the state, insisting that he will take sides.
