Guwahati, Oct 18: The call for justice in the death of legendary singer Zubeen Garg grew louder on Friday as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi visited Assam to pay his respects. Landing at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport around 1:30 PM, Gandhi went straight to Sonapur, where Zubeen’s last rites were performed.
Accompanied by senior leaders including Gaurav Gogoi, Jitendra Singh and Debabrata Saikia, Gandhi offered a floral wreath and a ‘gamosa’ at the cremation site. As slogans of “Justice for Zubeen” and “Jai Zubeen” echoed, he joined the naam prasanga (prayers) and planted a ‘nahor’ sapling — one of the singer’s favourite trees — near the site.
From Sonapur, Gandhi drove to Kahilipara to meet Zubeen’s wife Garima Saikia Garg, his father Mohini Mohan Barthakur and other family members. Offering his condolences, he said it was “heartbreaking” to meet them under such tragic circumstances.
Addressing the media later, Gandhi shared a personal reflection: “When I was 17, I went for a mountaineering course in Sikkim. Every morning, I saw Mount Kanchenjunga — honest, transparent, unshakeable, and beautiful. Gaurav told me Zubeen ji had once said, ‘I’m Kangchenjunga.’ I immediately understood why. He was like Kanchenjunga — honest and unshakeable. His loss is a tragedy for the entire state.”
He said the family’s only demand was truth. “They told me: ‘We have lost our Zubeen. All we want is the truth.’ It is the government’s duty to conduct a transparent and swift investigation and inform the family what really happened in Singapore,” Gandhi stated.
Calling Zubeen’s humility a reflection of his upbringing, the Congress leader said, “You can see the worth of a person in their home. Assam should be proud of Zubeen Garg. His father’s guidance helped him give this state a powerful voice. We are grateful to the family and to Zubeen ji for everything he did for Assam and for India.”
When asked if he would support conferring Bharat Ratna on the singer, Gandhi said he didn’t want to shift the focus from the family’s pain. “We want transparency and justice first. Everyone in Assam has the right to know what happened in Singapore. The sooner justice is served, the better.”
Gandhi assured that the Congress party stands firmly with the family and the people of Assam in their demand for answers. “This is not just the loss of a person; it’s a cruel blow to the soul of the state,” he added.
The visit by the Opposition leader has intensified the growing chorus for clarity and accountability surrounding Zubeen Garg’s death, as people across Assam continue to demand justice for their beloved icon.
