Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera, chairman of the Media and Communications Department of the Indian National Congress, on Thursday visited Zubeen Kshetra in Sonapur to pay tribute to late Assamese music icon Zubeen Garg.
Khera was accompanied by several leaders of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), including media department chairman Bedabrata Bora, state media coordinator Gopal Sharma, senior spokesperson Rupak Das and APCC secretary Kridip Barman, along with other party members.
After offering floral tributes, Khera said the memorial has now become a place of pilgrimage for the singer’s admirers. He noted that the visit made him realise how deeply the legendary artist continues to live in the hearts of the people.
“Coming here, I felt that Zubeen Khetra has become a kind of pilgrimage site. Lakhs of fans visit this place to pay their respects to Zubeen Garg. The way he passed away was shocking and unimaginable, and the grief still remains among the people of Assam,” Khera said while speaking to the media.
He further said that Garg’s popularity extended far beyond Assam, with fans across the country and even abroad mourning his passing. Khera added that although he had visited Guwahati about two months ago, he could not come to the memorial at that time, which he said left him feeling regretful.
While stating that political discussions were not appropriate at the memorial site, Khera responded to media queries and said leaders from all political backgrounds should visit the resting place of an artist who touched millions of lives.
“Whether it is the Prime Minister, the Home Minister or leaders of the opposition, everyone should come here at least once. Politics ultimately means service to society, and when an artist is loved by millions, ignoring his final resting place means overlooking the emotions of the people,” he said.
Khera also expressed surprise that members of the Assam government had reportedly not watched the late singer’s final film Roi Roi Binole together. He questioned why ministers who had previously attended collective screenings of other films had not done the same for a movie linked to an artist widely loved by the public.
Addressing the issue of justice related to the singer’s death, Khera alleged that the government had not handled the matter with the seriousness it required. According to him, the case was not presented strongly enough, which he said resulted in a court order allowing the unfreezing of the accused person’s bank account.
He said the development raises questions about how seriously authorities are pursuing justice in the matter.
Khera added that people across Assam, along with many others across the country, are waiting for justice for Zubeen Garg and hope the process moves forward without delay.
