Lurinjyoti Gogoi Slams Assam Govt for Delays, Politics in Zubeen Garg's Death Investigation

Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) president Lurinjyoti Gogoi condemned "efforts" to mislead the public regarding the pursuit of justice in the death of beloved singer Zubeen Garg, accusing the state government of prioritising politics over accountability.

Gogoi asserted that Assamese citizens are frustrated by selective narratives that risk tarnishing Garg’s legacy. “The immense love and respect for Zubeen Garg are being deliberately undermined,” he said, questioning the motives behind raising irrelevant issues in public discourse. While acknowledging recent clarifications from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Gogoi stressed that critical questions remain unanswered, particularly about the viral post-mortem report and whether any arrests have been made in connection with its leak.

He accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politicising the tragedy, stating, “The government’s actions after Zubeen’s death have drawn widespread criticism from AJP. Justice should not be entangled with vote-bank politics. If the Chief Minister cannot deliver justice, should the people rethink their votes?” Gogoi criticised the ongoing political theatrics, emphasising that justice must remain free from partisan agendas.

Gogoi noted that while four individuals present on the yacht with Garg in Singapore have been arrested, twelve others remain at large. He demanded to know why Wazid Ahmed, a Singapore citizen, has not been extradited to Assam and why no action has been taken against others involved. He also called for transparency regarding any potential business or personal connections between the Chief Minister and Abhimanyu Talukdar, president of the Assam Association of Singapore, as well as Shyamkanu Mahanta, the prime accused in the case. “The public deserves to know about any hidden ties or favouritism,” he stated.

Expressing frustration over delays in the investigation, Gogoi criticised the lack of judicial coordination in initiating a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry. “The AJP has no confidence in the CID or SIT. If the Chief Minister, who oversees the Home portfolio, lacks trust in these agencies, he should resign,” he declared.

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Gogoi also challenged the Chief Minister’s remarks about “black elements” in the complaint, questioning why Tarsem Mittal, who first informed Garima Garg about the Singapore incident, has not been interrogated despite his alleged commercial exploitation of Zubeen’s legacy. He further asked why Anita Deka Mahanta, wife of Shyamkanu Mahanta, remains outside the scope of the investigation.

Among the unanswered questions Gogoi raised were whether the SIT interrogated the yacht captain, rescue team, ambulance driver, medical staff, and the doctor who performed the post-mortem; whether yacht ticket booking records were obtained; who permitted Zubeen to dive without a life jacket; whether diving permissions were verified; and if rescue team members were questioned.

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Gogoi staunchly defended the cultural rights of indigenous communities to pay tributes to Zubeen Garg, including traditional practices involving alcohol, condemning the Chief Minister for disrespecting these customs. He also questioned why government and private sponsors of cultural events like ‘Rongali’ have not been investigated and whether details of an Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe are being concealed.

Urging the Chief Minister to prioritise transparency over electoral strategies, Gogoi suggested that Sarma himself should face scrutiny. “How did the Chief Minister obtain prior knowledge of the incident? His efforts to suppress Zubeen’s legacy have failed—the more he hides the truth, the larger this issue grows,” he concluded, also expressing concern for the Chief Minister’s health.