Assam grapples with grief and politics following Zubeen Garg’s sudden death.
Zubeen Garg: Assam’s beloved cultural icon whose sudden death ignites political controversy and calls for justice (Photo: Pinterest)
Guwahati: The sudden death of cultural icon Zubeen Garg has triggered a heated political battle in Assam, with parties scrambling to associate themselves with the singer’s legacy ahead of next year’s Assembly elections. What began as public mourning has now morphed into a partisan dispute over the investigation and accountability surrounding his death.
The BJP-led Assam government has announced several steps to ensure a thorough inquiry into Garg’s demise in Singapore. Measures include the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), the constitution of a fast-track court, and the appointment of a Special Public Prosecutor. Additionally, the government has invoked the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) through the Ministry of Home Affairs to seek Singaporean cooperation.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma defended the ongoing investigation, asserting that the SIT is working diligently to file a chargesheet ahead of schedule. He accused the Congress of politicising the tragedy and specifically criticised Assam Pradesh Congress President Gaurav Gogoi and senior leader Rahul Gandhi for visiting Garg’s family nearly a month after the incident.
“I welcome Rahul Gandhi to Assam, but his absence at the time of Zubeen Garg’s cremation speaks volumes. The Congress is clearly looking at political mileage ahead of the elections,” Sarma said, calling the opposition’s actions an unnecessary “hullabaloo.”
Sarma also questioned the Congress’s urgency now, contrasting it with their previous response to the assassinations of Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.
The Congress, in turn, has accused the BJP government of delaying the investigation and demanded that the case be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure impartiality and transparency.
Fans and Garg’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg, have echoed calls for justice and a full investigation into the singer’s mysterious death, which reportedly occurred while swimming in Singapore on September 19. Many fans have refused to accept the death as accidental.
Singapore Police Force (SPF) preliminary findings have ruled out foul play, though the complete investigation may take up to three months. So far, seven individuals have been arrested, including festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma, DSP cousin Sandipan Garg, security officers Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya, bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, and co-singer Amrit Prabha Mahanta.
A two-member SIT team, led by ADGP Munna Prasad Gupta, is scheduled to travel to Singapore on October 20 to coordinate with local authorities. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar facilitated the visit following a meeting with CM Sarma in New Delhi.
As political rhetoric escalates, the people of Assam continue to seek clarity, justice, and a respectful commemoration of Zubeen Garg’s legacy — a voice that once united the state but whose death now risks deepening divisions.
