Assamese singer Zubeen Garg booked for allegedly ‘defaming’ the Bharat Ratna, FIR registered

Assamese singer Zubeen Garg has been booked by the Assam police for his alleged ‘unconstitutional’ remarks against the Bharat Ratna Award. The FIR has been registered in Lanka in the Hojai district of Assam. According to reports, the case against the singer came about when a short clip of Garg surfaced on social media that supposedly had diminutive remarks against the highest civilian honour. The clip shows a voice alleged to be of that of Garg’s singing the first line of his new song “politics na karibo Bandhu” (do not do politics my friend) before he used a derogatory term for the Bharat Ratna.

The complaint was reportedly lodged by state Bharatiya Janata Party functionary Satya Ranjan Borah. Borah, also said in a Facebook post that an FIR has been lodged against the singer for “defaming, disrespecting and insulting nation’s highest recognition the Bharat Ratna and defaming and insulting voice and pride of Assam late Bhupen Hazarika accordingly with some unparliamentary and anti-social words.”

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Videos of the clip accusing the singer have, however not been yet been verified. Borah, has however stated that such acts will have a negative impact on the younger generations given the fact that he has a huge following fan base,  “it will impact the youth negatively.” “Zubeen Garg is an institution. He has a massive following,” Borah stated.

According to reports, Garg has been extremely vocal in his opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which has seen massive protests and riots in state of Assam and across the Northeast. His song, Politics Nokoriba Bandhu is reported to be a retaliation against the Bill.