In Assam, a 31-year-old Bengali-origin Muslim singer, Altaf Hussain, was arrested on Saturday for allegedly inciting hatred against the state’s ethnic communities through a protest song he released last month. The contentious song, sung in Assamese, includes the provocative line, “Does Assam belong to your father that you want to chase them out?”
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma referred to the arrest during one of his regular Facebook live sessions on Sunday stating that the song was part of an “attack” and calling it an attempt to “change Bihu into Miya Bihu”. Sarma called the song derogatory towards Assamese culture.
Through his lyrics, Hussain draws attention to the discrimination faced by “Miyas”—a term often used to refer to Bengali-origin Muslims in Assam. He points out that while individuals from all communities may commit crimes, it is predominantly the Miyas who are targeted, often being falsely accused of being undocumented immigrants.
Hussain’s song is believed to echo sentiments similar to those expressed in a Bangladeshi protest song titled “Desh ta tomar baaper naki,” which translates to “Does the country belong to your father?” His lyrics aim to highlight the plight of Bengali-origin Muslims in Assam, particularly in the context of the ongoing campaign by nativist groups to drive them out of the region.
A complaint against Hussain was filed in Dhubri district, located in western Assam. Following this, a case was registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita that deal with promoting enmity between religious groups and hurting religious sentiments. As a result, the singer was taken into custody.
The complainant has accused Hussain of distorting a traditional Bihu song, a cultural hallmark of Assam, and using it to incite hostility against indigenous communities in the state. This has further fueled tensions, with authorities taking swift action in response to the complaint.
The situation has drawn attention to the broader issues of cultural identity and communal tensions in Assam. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma commented on social media, stating that the people of Assam would not tolerate any attempts to alter traditional Bihu songs or incite discord among communities.
The arrest of Hussain underscores the ongoing cultural and political complexities in Assam, where questions of identity, belonging, and citizenship continue to be deeply contested.
