Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has strongly criticised Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi, accusing him of exploiting the death of iconic singer Zubeen Garg for political gain. Speaking to reporters, Sarma claimed that Gogoi’s sudden expressions of grief and calls for a central investigation were more about political theatre than genuine concern.
Sarma questioned Gogoi’s past engagement with Zubeen’s work, saying, “We have never seen Akhil Gogoi as a fan of Zubeen Garg … doing politics with a dead person is awful.” He also drew parallels between Gogoi and event organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, suggesting both were pushing for a CBI and NIA probe not out of a quest for justice but to “create political noise.”
The Chief Minister further accused social media users of splitting into two groups: one mourning the singer sincerely, and another trying to target the BJP in his name. He claimed many in the latter group had never even listened to Zubeen’s songs.
Zubeen Garg tragically died under mysterious circumstances on September 19, 2025, while swimming during a yacht event in Singapore. His death has sparked widespread grief and speculation across Assam. Meanwhile, calls for a central investigation by opposition figures have intensified the controversy.
Sarma also noted that though Singapore authorities have handed over Garg’s post-mortem report to his wife, Garima Saikia, any decision to make the findings public will depend on her. Meanwhile, the Assam government’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) is actively probing the circumstances of the death, and event organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta has approached the Supreme Court seeking protection amid the scrutiny.
