Clerics' fatwa against Assamese singer, Taslima Nasreen, Bollywood singer stand by her side

Following the fatwa, issued by altogether 46 clerics against the first runner-up of Indian Idol Junior in 2015, protests were raised across the state with the demand that the state Government  take stern action against the move.

The Assam police have started an investigation into the incident following a directive by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

Assam police ADGP (Special Branch) Pallav Bhattacharya said that police was trying to ascertain  whether the fatwa was a reaction to the singer performing songs against terrorism.

According to the reports, leaflets proclaiming the fatwa against Nahid  were distributed in the central Assam district on Tuesday. The leaflets were written in Assamese language.

The fatwa stated that the programme on March 25 at Udall Sonai Bibi College in Hojai district, where Nahid is scheduled to perform is against the Sharia.

Following the fatwa, Nahid Afrin said that, she will never quit singing.

"I will continue  singing," she said.

"I am a singer and music is my life. I can't think of survival without music," Nahid said.

Meanwhile, Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen praised  Nahid Afrin for not bowing to the clerics' fatwa.

"After getting fatwa from 46 mullahs in Assam,16 yrs old Nahid Afrin said she'll never bow down and will never leave singing. Bravo girl," Taslima tweeted.

On the other hand,  Bollywood singer and music director Vishal Dadlani tweeted that anyone who tells a musician not to make music, doesn't understand anything about spirituality, shame on the people threatening Nahid Afrin.

"Spoke with Nahid Afrin and her parents. They are standing strong. Told her that we all stand with her. She will not give up on music," Dadlani tweeted.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)