Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday stated that attempts to politicise the legacy of iconic Assamese singer Zubeen Garg had wounded public sentiment, asserting that people across the state wanted the celebrated artist to remain above partisan affiliations. Sarma made the remarks at 'Zubeen Khetra', the memorial site on the outskirts of Guwahati where the singer's last rites were performed.

CM Sarma's Visit to Zubeen Khetra

The Chief Minister said he had personally visited the memorial site multiple times during the process of selecting the location and organising the singer's final journey. Sarma noted that the site was chosen after considerable deliberation. 'This place was chosen after a lot of thought, and I came here many times during that period. We were here to make arrangements for Zubeen Garg's last rites and final journey. But later, some politically associated people created so much politics around it that at one point it became uncomfortable to come here,' he said.

When Politics Overshadowed the Artist

According to Sarma, public discourse around the memorial gradually shifted away from the singer's life and artistic contributions toward political debates. 'At one stage, politics began to dominate discussions more than Zubeen Garg himself,' the Chief Minister said. He added that he had anticipated this, believing that once elections concluded, political noise would subside and Garg's true identity — his artistry, character, and cultural contributions — would naturally come to the fore again.

Allegations Against Opposition

Sarma alleged that several individuals who later sought to associate themselves with the singer had, in fact, been critical of him during his lifetime. 'Those who came here and did politics had often criticised Zubeen Garg when he was alive. Their friendship was for a different purpose. But for us, Zubeen Garg was always very special; he remains so today, and he will remain so in the future,' he said. The Chief Minister specifically referred to the use of the singer's photographs at polling booths and party offices by the Indian National Congress (INC), arguing that people did not appreciate attempts to politically appropriate an artist.

BJP's Stated Stand and Public Response

Sarma claimed that the alleged politicisation of Garg's image during the elections had ultimately backfired on opposition parties. He maintained that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had taken a deliberate decision to stay away from using the singer's name for electoral gain. 'People want artists to remain non-political. BJP took a clear stand that we would not do politics in Zubeen Garg's name, and time has proved that it was the correct decision,' he added. He noted that public conversation is now shifting toward preserving the singer's memories, music, and cultural legacy.

Preserving Garg's Cultural Legacy

The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction that the focus at Zubeen Khetra is increasingly turning toward how best to honour the singer's memory and safeguard his contributions to Assamese music and culture. The site, he suggested, should serve as a space for cultural remembrance rather than political contestation. How the memorial develops in the coming months will likely reflect whether that aspiration holds.