Guwahati:
ULFA's anti-talk faction today condemned Assam's popular singer Zubeen Garg for singing Hindi songs in Rongali Bihu functions and warned they would not be responsible for any consequences following the singer's refusal to obey their diktat.
The faction had earlier warned singers in Assam not to sing Hindi songs on stage during functions organised on the occasion of Bihu celebrations.
ULFA's Information and Publicity Secretary Arunodoy Asom in an e-mail sent to PTI said it was "unfortunate that Zubeen decided to ignore our request and went on to sing in Hindi at the Guwahati Bihu Sanmilan and the organisers supported him in this."
"Zubeen is a talented singer but that does not mean he should consider himself an ambassador of Hindi and go all out to promote it. If he continues to do so, we shall not be responsible for any consequences," he said.
Zubeen had sang his popular number 'Ya Ali' in the Guwahati Bihu Sanmilani function at Latasil Playground and had announced before he began singing that music "has no language and Hindi is the national language of the country."
The ULFA statement further said that Zubeen had claimed Hindi is the national language but constitution states it is the official language which is distinct from national language.
Meanwhile, Zubeen said in the social media site Facebook that ULFA's reaction was really sad as "when I sang Ya Ali everyone was overwhelmed but now when I sing it, they say I am wrong."
Zubeen also announced that he would not sing at Bihu functions from next year as "no power can dictate an artist.
We have our own freedom, my music speaks about love and brotherhood, some people never understood that but I will always live with my own freedom."