Unwanted controversy embraces a city press club

Inviting a minister for a cultural programme by Gauhati Press Club (earlier Guwahati Press Club) seemingly touched the wrong chord, as the issue has gone out of proportion, where a sizable number of social media users questioned the press club committee why the particular minister was invited even though he is not in charge of IPR or cultural ministry?

- NAVA THAKURIA

Moreover, why did the GPC delegation approach the concerned minister at his residence in the evening hours (but not in the Secretariat) and what was the problem in approaching him at the premise of the state legislative assembly, where the budget session (17 February to 25 March 2025) was going on? The controversy erupted following a social media post by a television journalist, associated with the news channel owned by the state government chief's family, where the scribe claimed that the Assam health and family welfare minister disrespected a delegation from GPC, which went to invite Singhal for a forthcoming Bhaona performance in the city. During the brief interaction, the minister allegedly questioned the necessity of a press club to organise a Bhaona. Moreover, he termed the native traditional performing art form as not being secular in nature.

The issue suddenly went viral as many individuals, outfits, media outlets and opposition political leaders started making a hue and cry demanding an apology from the minister. Some even termed Singhal as a 'non-Assamese' who has no idea about the religious performing art form (Ankiya Bhaona), developed by the sixteenth-century Vaishnavite saint, scholar and philosopher Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev and his prime disciple Madhavdev to enact plays primarily with mythological characters.

The excitement, however, lasted for a short period, as the state chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma opined that he did not believe his cabinet colleague Singhal could make such an immature comment.