Guwahati, Jan 13: A major controversy has erupted in Assam following tagging of Ismail Siddique, popularly known as Bagh Hazarika, as a “fictional character” by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

While attending a state convention of ABVP on January 8 at Guwahati, CM Sarma indicated Bag Hazarika was fictional.

A section of Assamese Muslim leaders has expressed their anguish over the remarks.

“We reject the Chief Minister’s interpretation of history about one of Assam’s illustrious sons with a communal overtone,” a statement issued by 10 Assamese Muslim intellectuals and scholars stated.

It further said, “If there is any confusion about Bagh Hazarika, the government should constitute a committee of historians under a university in Assam to find out whether he existed or not.”

The 10 Muslim intellectuals and scholars include professors Abu Nasser Syed Ahmed and Poynuruddin Ahmed, former Minister Samsul Huda, political activist Mehdi Alam Bora, and Kazi Nekib Ahmed and Mushtaq Golam Osmani of the Bagh Hazarika Research Forum.

Mushtaq Golam Osmani said Bagh Hazarika finds mention in the works of noted historians Bhuban Chandra Handique and Surjya Kumar Bhuyan.

He pointed out that Surjya Kumar Bhuyan, in his Annals of the Delhi Badshahate, has mentioned of Bag Hazarika. He has written: “the Muhammadan Commander Bagh Hazarika whose military genius was partly responsible for the success of Lachit Barphukan’s operation against Ram Singh (who led the Mughal army during the Battle of Saraighat in 1671)”.

The Upper Assam Muslim Kalyan Parishad (UAMKP) also criticised CM Sarma’s statement on historical figure Bag Hazarika. “If Bag Hazarika was a fictional character, then why his statue is with Ahom general Lachit Borphukan at Sarighat. If they have so much problem with Bag Hazarika then his statue should be demolished,” UAMKP stated in a press release.

The controversy over Bagh Hazarika began during the celebration of Lachit Barphukan’s 400th birth anniversary in November 2022.