Bhupen Hazarika's Son Refuses Bharat Ratna Conferred on Singer, Mamata Banerjee Supports 'Family Sentiment Regarding Citizenship Amendment Bill'
Bhupen Hazarika's son Tej Hazarika said that he had so far not received any invitation to accept the Bharat Ratna conferred on his father, so there was nothing to reject.
Kolkata, February 12: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, speaking on Bhupen Hazarika's son threatening to not accept the Bharat Ratna on the issue of citizenship amendment bill, said that, "We've a great admiration for Bhupen Hazarika. When his family has a sentiment regarding Citizenship Amendment Bill; we appreciate their sentiments. We oppose the Bill strongly. They want to insult people in the name of this Bill." Bhupen Hazarika's Kin Refuses to Accept Bharat Ratna Award in Protest Against Citizenship Bill.
Read Mamata Banerjee's Comment in the Tweet Below:
Taking a swipe at BJP, Assamese singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika’s son Tez Hazarika has said his father’s name and words were being invoked and celebrated publicly even as plans were afoot to pass the “painfully unpopular” Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. Bhupen Hazarika Honoured With Bharat Ratna Posthumously: All About The Singer, Songwriter, Folk Artist, Cultural Icon and 'Voice of NorthEast'.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Tez described the proposed legislation as “undermining” the “documented position” of his father, who was awarded the country’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, posthumously by the Narendra Modi government last month. Shutdown in Nagaland Over Citizenship Bill, Vehicular Traffic Suspended.
He said he had so far not received any invitation to accept the Bharat Ratna conferred on his father, so there was nothing to reject.
“I believe that my father’s name and words are being invoked and celebrated publicly while plans are afoot to pass a painfully unpopular bill regarding citizenship that is actually undermining his documented position. It would in reality be in direct opposition to what Bhupenda believed in his heart of hearts,” he said, without naming any political party.
However, Bhupen Hazarika’s brother and prominent singer Saumer Hazarika as well as his sister-in-law and popular singer Manisha Hazarika told the media that the family has neither rejected Bharat Ratna nor criticised the Centre for conferring the award posthumously.
Manisha Hazarika, wife of Bhupen Hazarika’s late brother and well-known singer Jayanta Hazarika, said, “Bhupen Hazarika was an institution. He is above politics and because he took Assam to the world that he has been honoured with the highest civilian award. If this award is made family centric, than it will be a dishonour to the award, the entire northeast region and the country.”
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 12, 2019 08:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).