Sonapur, Oct 23: Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Gaurav Gogoi on Friday criticised the investigation into the death of Assam’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg, alleging that the state government had failed to establish its claims before the court and ensure justice for the cultural icon.
During his visit to Zubeen Kshetra in Sonapur, Gogoi questioned Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s handling of the case and criticised the delay in completing the memorial, which remains unfinished a year after Zubeen Garg’s death.
Taking a dig at the Chief Minister, Gogoi questioned why the government had failed to present evidence before the court despite making strong claims about the case.
“We have not seen any positive result in terms of justice for the singer. I think the announcement made during the Assembly, the Chief Minister couldn’t provide proof to the court. The SIT which has been formed by him, the allegations which have been made and the report that has been made, that only couldn’t be proved inside the court,” Gogoi said.
He questioned why the government, which he alleged had been able to produce evidence from Pakistan against him, had failed to do so in Garg’s case despite the Chief Minister’s assurances.
“I am struggling to understand here that the government who can bring proof from Pakistan against me, that government even after the Chief Minister giving his word, why couldn’t he provide proof. Why didn’t he use his power,” he added.
Gogoi also questioned why the state’s Advocate General had not been entrusted with the case, referring to the lawyer’s alleged proximity to the Chief Minister and his position at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
“The Advocate General who is close to the Chief Minister and got a position at BCCI, why was he not given the responsibility? Why is the Advocate General not there in this case? So there are many questions and I think this is the government’s failure,” he said.
Describing the handling of the case as one of the government’s failures, Gogoi alleged that Sarma’s political career would be marked by the injustice done to Garg. He also criticised what he termed the use of the singer’s name for political gain.
Gogoi expressed concern over the delay in completing Zubeen Kshetra, questioning the government’s priorities despite its claims of completing infrastructure projects such as flyovers.
“One year went by, still Zubeen Kshetra is incomplete. Currently, the public is sad with the justice process of Zubeen Garg. Standing with the people today, we came here. We see so many advertisements of the government where they have completed flyovers and other buildings. But, watching the foundation of the place, we can estimate the proof of how much devotion the government has put,” he said.
He further alleged that some people close to Garg had treated the singer as a means of commercial gain, while asserting that the Congress would stand with his family and the people of Assam.
“He gave so much to the state, be it culturally or socially, their close people used him for commercial purposes. They tried to earn profit and income from the singer. Maybe somewhere he also realised about this, which we saw in his last interview. We are always with his family and the people of Assam, not as a political party or party chief, but standing with the people of Assam for the betterment of the state,” Gogoi said.
It may be noted that the Gauhati High Court recently granted bail to Sandipan Garg and Amritprava Mahanta, who are accused in connection with the singer’s death. Following the two bail orders, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) announced that it would approach the Supreme Court to challenge the relief granted to them.