BJP gained 20% votes after Cong politicised Zubeen’s death: CM

Guwahati: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday alleged that Congress-led opposition faced public rejection in the recently concluded Assam assembly polls for “politicising” the death of musician Zubeen Garg.

After paying tribute to the singer at the cremation ground — Zubeen Kshetra — at Sonapur on the outskirts of the city, Sarma said, “Politicising the unfortunate death of beloved Zubeen during elections has backfired on Congress-led opposition. Some of them stopped invoking his name as soon as the polls were over, and those who came to his shrine had no knowledge of Zubeen when he was alive.”

He added that Congress’s attempt to politicise Zubeen’s death had, in fact, benefited BJP. “BJP got 20% votes only because of Congress dragging Zubeen into politics,” he added.

On his visit, Sarma said, “As promised, after the dust of the elections settled, I visited the site today purely as a tribute to someone who, for us, is evergreen. He was never a matter of politics, but an emotion that lives in every heart.”

He added that Zubeen was, is, and will always remain his favourite.

Congress and its allies had criticised the state govt during election campaigns over the alleged delay in setting up the fast-track court in the Zubeen Garg death case. Delivering justice to Zubeen Garg within 100 days of forming the govt was one of the “guarantees” made by Congress.

During his visit on Wednesday, Sarma also reviewed the ongoing development works at Zubeen Kshetra.

He said the initial phase of construction had begun, and steps were being taken to safeguard the site from possible landslides. “Once the construction of the boundary wall is completed, the main development work of the Kshetra is expected to progress in a structured manner,” he added. The Zubeen Kshetra will be developed on a 10-bigha plot of land.