Bhupen Hazarika's son: His name used to push painfully unpopular bill

GUWAHATI: In yet another blow to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, Tez Hazarika, the New York-based son of Bhupen Hazarika, on Monday reacted sharply to the legendary singer being conferred the Bharat Ratna, saying, "I believe 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 undermining his documented position. It would in reality be in direct opposition to what Bhupenda believed in his heart of hearts."

Tez said he had got no invite yet from the government to receive the Bharat Ratna but made it clear that he considered the Citizenship Bill much more important than such awards.

Citizenship Bill more important than Bharat Ratna: Hazarika's son

I go on record here to answer that I have not received any invitation so far, (so) there is nothing to reject, and how the Centre moves on this matter (bill) far outweighs in importance the awarding and receiving of such national recognition - a display of short-lived cheap thrills," Tez said. He added, "For his fans - a majority of people of the northeast - and India's great diversity, including all indigenous populations of India, he would never have endorsed what appears, quite transparently, to be an underhanded way of pushing a law against the will and benefit of the majority in a manner that also seems to be grossly un-constitutional, un-democratic and un-Indian."

Assam and other northeastern states are in the grip of widespread protests against the bill. Tez's reaction comes two days after PM Narendra Modi supported the Centre's stand on the bill during his visit to Guwahati, Itanagar and Agartala. He had said the amended Act would not hurt the interests of the people of the northeast.

Bhupen's son said Bharat Ratnas and longest bridges (Dhola-Sadiya bridge renamed Bhupen Hazarika Setu) are necessary but would not promote peace and prosperity of citizens of India. He added, "Only just popular laws and foresight on the part of leadership will." He feared that adopting any form of legislation that has the potential to disrupt the "language, and identity and power balance" of the northeast amounts to undermining his father's position.

Other members of the family, however, held views different from those of Tez. Sudakshina Sarma, Bhupen's sister, said, "We are nobody to accept or reject the award as Bhupenda is the son of the soil not only for Assam, but for the northeast as well as India. Bhupenda would have been happy if the award had been given during his lifetime." Rishi Raj Sarma, the singer's nephew, said, "It is a recognition given by the government. We are happy that Bhupen mama has been given the award as demanded by the masses. But if there is any political calculation behind it, then it hurts not only us family members but also people of the entire region. We are opposing the bill, but that should not be linked to the award." Bhupen Hazarika's brother Samar Hazarika refused to comment.