Guwahati

'Lungis' won't be allowed in Kalakshetra, Sherman Ali will be sent to jail: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Sherman Ali will be sent to jail after the elections unless he publicly apologises for his controversial remarks

Sentinel Digital Desk

Guwahati: Amid the raging controversy over setting up a Miya Museum in Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday that Sherman Ali, the Congress MLA who made this demand, would be sent to jail for his controversial remarks.

"Sherman's place will be in jail," said Sarma. Ali will be sent to jail after the elections unless he publicly apologises for his controversial remarks.

The Congress MLA did not stop at demanding a Miya Museum at Kalakshetra. He also said that he will keep Nila Lungi (blue sarong like garment mostly worn by Muslim men of South East Asia), in Sankardev Kalakshetra.

Earlier this week, Sherman Ali proposed the state government to establish a Miya Museum in Assam's epitome of culture and heritage, Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra. Following this controversial proposal, a strong discourse and a series of debates have erupted.

Amid the ongoing debate over Miya Museum, another Congress MLA, Kamalakhya Dey Purakayastha demanded the construction of Bengali museum at Kalakshetra to reflect the culture of Bengali people.

The minister said that BJP is not against Assamese Muslims, and also have taken various measures to preserve the culture and heritage of the Assamese Muslims.

"I do not mind if they use Miya language, but do not distort the Assamese language," Sarma further added.