Assam: A proposed festival in memory of Zubeen Garg has run into controversy after the singer’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg, and several prominent public figures denied agreeing to the roles assigned to them in its organising committee. The dispute has also drawn attention to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, whose name was listed as chief guest before Union Minister of State Pabitra Margherita clarified that neither he nor the Chief Minister was associated with the event.
The controversy erupted after organisers announced a three-day ‘Zubeen Mahotsav 2026’ at Latasil field in Guwahati from November 18 to 20 to mark the singer’s birth anniversary. The announcement came on October 12, the same day Garima and fans gathered at Zubeen Kshetra in Sonapur to demand justice following the bail granted to Amritprabha Mahanta, one of the accused in the case related to Garg’s death.
The festival announcement has drawn massive criticism over the use of names without consent and the timing of the celebrations, with some admirers arguing that the focus should remain on the ongoing court proceedings.
Garima Denies Association With Festival
Garima Saikia Garg had called for a peaceful gathering at Zubeen Kshetra at 11 am on October 12, urging people to raise a united voice for justice. She attended the protest along with fans and musicians associated with the late singer.
The demonstration followed the Gauhati High Court’s October 9 decision to grant bail to Amritprabha Mahanta, who had been in custody in connection with the case.
The gathering also triggered comparisons on social media with the enormous crowds that came out to pay their last respects to Garg in September 2025. According to a report citing Assam’s Directorate of Information and Public Relations, more than 15 lakh people had visited Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati to pay their respects.
Hours after the October 12 protest, organisers announced the proposed Zubeen Mahotsav during a press conference at Jyoti Chitraban.
Garima subsequently issued a clarification, stating that she had not agreed to serve as the festival’s chief adviser and was not associated with the event in any capacity.
She said the organisers had not formally approached the Zubeen Garg Trust. She also expressed concern that using her name without permission could mislead the public about her involvement.
Garima pointed out that the All Assam Zubeen Garg Fan Club, with support from the people of Dibrugarh, had already announced plans to observe the singer’s birthday as ‘Srishtir Din’, a day dedicated to creativity. She said she had not accepted any responsibility in that initiative either.
Reiterating her position, Garima said her priority remained the fight for justice for her husband and urged people not to create confusion by associating her name with events without her consent.
AASU Leaders Reject Patron Roles
The controversy widened after AASU president Utpal Sarma said he and the organisation’s chief adviser, Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya, had declined invitations to become patrons of the proposed festival.
According to Utpal Sarma, some organisers had visited Swahid Bhawan to invite the two leaders. Both had made it clear that they could not accept any position or responsibility, he said.
Sarma expressed surprise that their names had nevertheless appeared in the patrons’ list and urged the organisers to remove them.
The committee list had named Ajay Phukan as president, Anup Barua as working president, Raj Kurmi as general secretary and Chiranjit Kashyap as cultural secretary. Garima was listed as chief adviser, while the Chief Minister was named chief patron.
Union Minister of State Pabitra Margherita, Assam minister Bimal Bora, MLA Rupak Sarmah and AJYCP president Palash Changmai were among the other prominent names included in the list.
However, Margherita subsequently clarified on social media that neither he nor Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was associated with the proposed non-governmental festival. BJP MLA Rupak Sarmah also denied any involvement, saying he had learnt about the event through news reports.
CM’s Earlier Remarks on Zubeen’s Death Back in Focus
The Chief Minister’s name in the original committee list attracted particular attention because of his earlier statements about the circumstances surrounding Garg’s death.
On November 25, 2025, CM Sarma told the Assam Legislative Assembly that the case was a “plain and simple case of murder”. He said investigators believed one person had killed the singer while others had assisted in the crime.
On November 19, 2025, the Chief Minister had alleged that people made the singer consume alcohol to exploit his wealth, claiming that Garg had been made to drink rather than choosing to do so himself.
The Chief Minister’s association with a festival bearing the singer’s name has drawn massive backlash, particularly following Mahanta’s bail.
Fast forward to October 12 (Monday), CM Sarma reacted on Amritprabha Mahanta’s bail, saying that the government could not comment on matters pending before the Gauhati High Court or the Supreme Court.
Amritprabha Mahanta’s Bail Adds to Public Upset
The festival controversy comes amid renewed public anger over the progress of the case following Mahanta’s bail.
The Gauhati High Court granted her bail on October 9. In its detailed order, the court said the material before it did not establish a prima facie case of murder conspiracy against her at that stage. The judge also made clear that the question of guilt would be decided in the ongoing trial.
The bail order does not amount to an acquittal, however, and the proceedings against the accused continue.
‘We Want Justice, Not a Festival’: Fans React
The proposed Zubeen Mahotsav includes a procession from Zubeen Kshetra to Latasil field, a cake-cutting ceremony, the Jonki Borthakur Memorial Music Competition, an ‘Assam Kantha’ music competition and an ‘Assam Dance Master’ dance competition.
Auditions have been announced for October 31 and November 1. The organisers have also indicated that the programme will feature artists from outside Assam and a bhaona troupe from Majuli.
However, the announcement has drawn criticism from fans and admirers who question the timing of the celebrations while the singer’s family and supporters continue to seek answers in the death case.
Comments posted during the press conference livestream included, “We don’t want Zubeen Mahotsav, we want justice.” One user wrote, “Dalal.”; “Nothing like this should happen until Zubeen gets justice. Don’t politicise it. They are all betrayers,” another comment read.
‘Politics Nokoriba Bondhu’
Zubeen Garg’s songs continue to bring people together, but the controversy over Zubeen Mahotsav 2026 has left people asking whether his name is being caught up (yet again) in the very politics they want kept away from his memory.
For the lakhs of fans and admirers, Zubeen is already part of everyday life in Assam, through his songs and the memories attached to them. They believe no festival can add to that bond. At this moment, they say, the greater need is to respect his family’s position and continue seeking justice in his death case.