'Assam will never forget PM Modi's respect for Bhupen Hazarika, his presence healed past neglect': Himanta

PM Modi with Assam CM Hemanta Biswa Sarma at the 100th birth anniversary celebrations of legendary singer and Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika in Guwahati

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for being present at Bhupen Hazarika's birth anniversary celebrations in Guwahati.

He said that Modi’s presence had helped heal the wound felt by the people of Assam over the “failure” of the then prime minister to pay respects to the musical maestro when he passed away.

"When Bhupen da died (in 2011), the people of Assam wanted a representative of government of India to come and pay respects. We wanted the prime minister to come and lay a garland when he was being cremated," Sarma said, speaking at a programme as part of Hazarika's birth centenary celebrations.

"But, our dream did not come true," he said, in an apparent reference to the then Congress-led central government and prime minister Manmohan Singh, who was also a Rajya Sabha member from Assam.

"Today, Modi ji has come to be part of Bhupen da's birth centenary celebrations... The way he has shown respect for Bhupen da, the people of Assam will never forget it," Sarma said.

During his speech, PM Modi referred to Sarma and said he was fortunate to be able to participate in the 100th birth anniversary of Hazarika.” He said, “This is the centenary year of the ‘Sudhakantha,’ who gave voice to the dreams of India and connected music with emotions.”

The chief minister also recounted how Hazarika's songs and other creations advocated social equality and a deep sense of nationalism.

Sarma also thanked the BJP-led central government for its respect for the 'Bard of Brahmaputra', by bestowing the Bharat Ratna, naming the Dhola-Sadiya bridge after him and releasing a Rs 100 coin in his memory.

With inputs from PTI