GUWAHATI: Tej Hazarika, son of the late singer-composer and the Bard of Assam, Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, said that the government's decision to confer Bharat Ratna upon his father cannot be accepted.
This reaction comes after gauging the current political climate of Assam and Northeast, where the region is burning with the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
Speaking to G Plus Mayukh Hazarika, Bhupen Hazarika's nephew and Jayanta Hazarika's son said, "I am totally unaware of the decision taken by Tez and I've only seen this on TV."
"But one thing is certain that the Bharat Ratna should have been conferred upon him long back, not posthumously," he further added.
Furthermore, Asomiya Pratidin, an Assamese local Daily speaking to Tez Hazarika reported:
“I am aware of the situation in Assam. Sudhakantha Bhupen Hazarika, who had always stood by the people of Assam at the time of struggle, perhaps would not have wished to accept the recognition. So as his son, I am not accepting the recognition bestowed upon him posthumously by the government of India. At the current situation in Assam, I can only do this much for the people of Assam. My mind and conscience is advising me not to accept recognition. As the maestro was an institution, he was beyond any honour”: Tez Hazarika.