Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a sharp attack on Sivasagar MLA and Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi, accusing him of exploiting the death of iconic singer Zubeen Garg for political mileage.
Speaking to reporters in Guwahati, Sarma said Gogoi’s sudden outpouring of grief and demand for a central investigation into Garg’s death were politically motivated rather than genuine acts of admiration.
“We have never seen Akhil Gogoi as a fan of late Zubeen Garg. Has anyone ever seen him post about Zubeen’s songs or attend any of his events? This is nothing but politics — and doing politics with a dead person is awful,” Sarma said.
The Chief Minister also drew parallels between Gogoi and event manager Shyamkanu Mahanta, both of whom have been vocal in seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
“Both their demands are the same — a CBI and NIA inquiry. But these demands are not about justice; they are about creating political noise,” Sarma remarked.
He went on to criticise social media trends following Garg’s mysterious death in Singapore, alleging that two distinct groups have emerged online. “One group consists of Zubeen’s genuine fans who are mourning his loss, while the other is trying to pull down the BJP in his name. Many among them have never even listened to his songs,” he said.
Zubeen Garg, one of Assam’s most celebrated musicians, died under mysterious circumstances on September 19 while swimming off Singapore’s Lazarus Island during a yacht outing organised as part of the Northeast India Festival. His death has sparked massive public grief and speculation, with allegations ranging from negligence to foul play.
While Singapore authorities have completed the post-mortem examination and handed the report to Garg’s wife, Garima Saikia, the Assam government has stated that any decision to make the findings public will rest with her.
The controversy has deepened political fault lines in Assam, with opposition figures — including Akhil Gogoi and Congress leaders — demanding a central probe. Meanwhile, event manager Shyamkanu Mahanta, who coordinated the Singapore trip, has approached the Supreme Court seeking protection of his fundamental rights amid growing scrutiny by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Assam.