Guwahati: The general secretary (GS) of Assam Miya Parishad, Abdul Baten Sheikh was arrested by the Dhubri Police on Tuesday in connection with the Miya Museum controversy.
Sheikh was reportedly detained from his residence at Alamganj in Gauripur in the Dhubri district of Assam.
Goalpara Police detained Assam Miya Parishad President M. Mohar Ali for inquiry after a controversy erupted over the exhibition of Assamese cultural artefacts at the museum.
The Goalpara district administration also locked the museum’s premises on orders from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who questioned the source of money behind it.
The museum has stirred up controversy and sparked a political war with allegations that Ali founded it.
CM Sarma had stated earlier in the day that the police will look into the source of funding for the contested museum’s construction.
The Assam Chief Minister announced that a probe into the occurrence will be carried out in the upcoming days, and those responsible for establishing the museum will be interrogated.
He stated that the museum’s management will need to provide an explanation for why a number of artefacts on display their genuinely belong to Assamese culture.
“If they don’t offer a convincing justification, legal action will be taken against them,” CM Sarma added.
He declared, “The Assamese people use every object on display at the Miya museum. All of the fish-catching equipment used by the plough is Assamese.
The lungi, a men’s garment worn below the waist, was the only thing cited by the Assam CM as belonging to the Miya group.
Assam cabinet minister Pijush Hazarika also addressed the matter at the time. Speaking to reporters, he agreed with the Assam Chief Minister that the majority of the exhibits on display at the museum belonged to Assamese culture.
He declared, “I vehemently reject it not only as a minister but also as an Assamese. The district administration has sealed the Miya Museum on the Chief Minister’s directives.”
“We are not opposed to the establishment of a Miya Museum, but they must display objects related to their culture and identity there. When that happens, we won’t be able to comment on it,” the state minister added.
Hazarika said that the Congress and the All India United Democratic Front were behind the tragedy (AIUDF).
Drivers and security personnel are the only attendees for the Congress theme song opening ceremony. He appeared to be making fun of the big old party when he declared, “Bharat Jodo Yatra has been a complete fiasco.