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Sankaradeva�s ideals will be upheld, CM on museum row

By STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Oct 26 - With controversy having erupted over the recommendation to set up a museum reflecting the culture and heritage of the people living in char-chaporis, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today said that the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra has been modelled on the ideals of the saint-reformer and those ideals will always be upheld.

�The Kalakshetra has been modelled on the ideals of Srimanta Sankaradeva. We will always try to uphold and keep alive his ideals,� Sonowal told reporters here.

He was reacting to a question regarding the controversy about the recommendation to set up a museum reflecting the culture and heritage of the people living in char-chaporis of Assam on the premises of the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra.

The issue flared up during the Puja holidays after Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared in the social media a letter written by Congress MLA Sherman Ali Ahmed to the Director of Museums.

In the letter, the Congress legislator cited the recommendation of the Departmentally Related Standing Committee (DRSC) on Education in its 47th Report on Art and Culture.

In the letter to the Director of Museums, written on October 18, Ali stated, �...I would like to inform you that one Museum reflecting the culture and heritage of the people living in Char-Chaporis of Assam in the premises of Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra, Guwahati was recommended by DRSC on Education, 2020-21, in its 47th Report of Art and Culture (Grant No 27). I would, therefore, like to request you kindly to expedite the process of establishment of the same.�

Sarma had on October 24 shared the letter in Twitter and also tweeted a response. �In my understanding, there is no separate identity and culture in Char Anchal of Assam as most of the people had migrated from Bangladesh. Obviously, in Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra, which is the epitome of Assamese culture, we will not allow any distortion. Sorry MLA Sahab,� Sarma had tweeted.

Opposition parties have, however, pointed out that 10 out of the 16 members of the DRSC on Education, including its chairman, are legislators belonging to the ruling coalition.

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