Upset with Citizenship Bill but no invitation to reject father's Bharat Ratna: Bhupen Hazarika's son
New Delhi, Feb 13 (IBNS): Clearing air over several media reports claiming he has rejected his father's Bharat Ratna award, Assamese cultural icon Bhupen Hazarika's son Tej Hazarika, who is upset with the Citizenship Bill, said he is yet to receive an invitation to accept or reject the honour on behalf of his late father.
Bhupen Hazarika was conferred the Bharat Ratna, posthumously.
"Numerous media journalists are now asking me whether or not I will accept the Bharat Ratna for my father. I go on record here to anwer that A), I have not received any invitation so far there is nothing to reject, and B), how the center moves on this matter far outweighs in importance the awarding and receiving of such national recognition—a display of short lived cheap thrills.—Tej a.k.a. Tez Hazarika" said New York based son of Hazarika in a Facebook post.
In the post, Tej Hazarika expressed his concern over the bill and said: "As the son of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika—one of the most popular and loved cultural and socio-political figures for the people of Assam and it’s neighboring sister states of India’s great Northeast—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 Bupenda believed in his heart of hearts."
"Adopting any form of this bill at this point in the manner in which it is being proffered, now or in the future, will ultimately have the sad and undesirable effect of not only disrupting the quality of life, language, identity and power balance of the region, but that of undermining my father’s position—by delivering a wreaking blow to the harmony, inner integrity and unity of the secular and democratic Republic of India."
"Bharat Ratnas and longest bridges while necessary, will not promote the peace and prosperity of the citizens of India. Only just popular laws and foresight on the part of leadership will."
What is Citizenship Bill and why it is contentious for Assam?
The Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016 is aimed to grant Indian citizenship to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
About 30 lakh people had submitted their claims for inclusion of their names in the final NRC during the claims and objections submission process ended on December 31 last.
Many in Assam say the Bill is against the essence of the Assam Accord and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The Assam Accord of 1985 as well as the NRC had made March 24, 1971 as the cut-off date for detecting and deporting illegal migrants living in Assam irrespective of religion.
Groups in Assam content that the new Bill will make allow citizenship for those who entered India after March 1971. Assam had witnessed a violent anti-foreigners’ movement from 1979 to 1985. The leader who led the agitation later formed the political outfit Assam Gana Parishad (AGP).
Image credit: Youtube
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