Himanta Biswa Sarma warns legal action if found violating Bihu guidelines

GUWAHATI: Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said Bihu committees and artistes who violate the state COVID-19 protocols by holding stage programmes beyond 11 pm would face legal consequences.

Popular Assam singers Zubeen Garg and Bipin Chawdang allegedly performed at their Bihu programmes at Kharghuli and Latasil ground respectively, last night after 11 pm, which is a violation of the state's health department's COVID-19 guidelines issued on April 9, as regards festivals related programmes in Assam.

Talking to the media, health minister Sarma said: "If any artiste is found guilty of violating state COVID protocols, by performing after 11:30 at night, he/she will face legal consequences. FIRs will be registered against them."

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The state health department SOP have mentioned strictly that the programmes/festival/ event have to be concluded by 11 pm mandatorily. On the contrary, Zubeen Garg reportedly started his programme somewhere around 11 pm.

Leading singer Bipin Chawdang also performed after 11 pm at Latasil Bihu.

Though InsideNE tried to contact Kamrup (Metro) deputy commissioner Biswajit Pegu several times for his comments on the matter, the phone calls went unanswered.

At a time when the nation is seeing an uncontrollable second wave of the COVID-19 and every state is trying to curb the spread of the virus by implementing lockdowns and night curfews, the irresponsibility showed by the Bihu programme organising committees like those of Kharguli and Latasil and popular artistes such as Zubeen Garg and Bipin Chawdang is questionable.

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