“If She Didn’t Know Zubeen, Why Visit Now?” Assam CM Targets Priyanka Gandhi Over Zubeen Kshetra Visit

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday accused the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) of indulging in politics in the name of Assam’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg. He claimed that his government had consciously avoided politicising the late singer’s legacy since his death.

Sarma said the Zubeen Kshetra memorial should never have been used as a political tool and criticised Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s visit to the memorial. Referring to her remarks, the Chief Minister said she had admitted that she did not know much about Zubeen Garg before visiting Assam.

“If she did not know him earlier, why did she visit now—only for the sake of votes?” Sarma questioned.

He alleged that Gandhi visited the memorial only briefly while she was in Assam for party-related work.

“She came to Assam for party activities and went to Zubeen Kshetra for just two minutes. If she had come only to visit the memorial, that would have been something else,” he said.

Highlighting the role of his government in building the memorial, Sarma said that he, along with ministers Keshab Mahanta and Bimal Bora, personally worked to develop the Zubeen Kshetra. He claimed that the team visited the site multiple times a day and undertook extensive work to carve out the area by cutting trees and developing infrastructure so that people could pay tribute to the singer.

Sarma also said BJP leaders such as Kiren Rijiju, Jyotiraditya Scindia and others have ensured that Zubeen Garg’s legacy is preserved with dignity. He added that around 12,000 BJP workers donated blood on the occasion of Zubeen Garg’s last birthday and questioned whether Congress had organised any similar initiative.

The Chief Minister further announced that BJP leaders should avoid visiting the memorial until after the elections to prevent allegations of political misuse.

“I will not visit the Zubeen Kshetra until the elections are over. If God wills, I will go there only after becoming Chief Minister again, so that people cannot say BJP did politics in Zubeen’s name,” he said, accusing Congress leaders of openly politicising the singer’s legacy.

AJP Questions Delay in Justice for Zubeen Garg

The confrontation comes a day after Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) president Lurinjyoti Gogoi addressed a press conference raising concerns over the delay in the investigation into Zubeen Garg’s death. Marking five months since the singer’s death, Gogoi recalled that the Chief Minister had earlier described the incident as “murder” on the floor of the Assembly, alleging that one person committed the crime while others aided it.

Gogoi questioned why a fast-track court had not been formed and why no concrete steps had been taken to punish the accused. He alleged that the delay was deliberate and questioned whether the government feared that bail could be granted to the accused.

He also accused both the Chief Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of ignoring the issue and not visiting Zubeen Kshetra even after multiple visits to Assam. Gogoi termed this as neglect and disrespect towards the cultural icon and questioned why no major initiatives had been taken at the memorial site.

The AJP chief also alleged that Zubeen Garg’s photograph was excluded from the state film awards ceremony and announced that the party would launch an agitation on February 27 demanding justice for the late singer.

Also Read: Priyanka Gandhi Visits Zubeen Kshetra, Says “Zubeen Was Above Politics”