Miya Museum controversy: Apart from Lungi nothing is new, says Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma broke his silence over the newly-inaugurated Miya Museum in the Goalpara district of Assam and remarked that except 'Lungi' nothing is new.

''Apart from the traditional lungi (a long piece of cotton cloth worn as a loincloth, sash, worn by men) nothing is new in the museum,'' he said while speaking to media on October 25.

"The museum in question only has traditional items which reflect the culture of Assamese society as a whole and not that of miya community," he added.

Further the Chief Minister also stated that the management of the Miya museum will be probed under the matter and may face legal action if they fail to provide a satisfactory explanation on how they have justified the items in the museum to belong to miya community.

"I don't understand what kind of museum is this, the plough which they have placed in the museum is used by Assamese people, even the items used for catching fish are also from the Assamese community", the Chief Minister added.

Speaking further, the chief minister stated that earlier when he spoke about Miya's poetry a section of the society remarked him as communal, but now those people have to look back at the said museum and see for themselves.

Notably, the state government will also direct the police department to investigate how the money was acquired to open such a museum.

It is to be mentioned here that the ‘Miya Museum’ was inaugurated at Lakhipur in Dapkarvita under the Goalpara district. 

The minuscule museum has been arranged for the preservation of old items that the Miya community in Assam has been using since time immemorial.

The inauguration was attended by hundreds of people from the Miya community as well as invited guests, and officials of the Miya Parishad.