Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday visited the memorial site of legendary Assamese singer Zubeen Garg and announced that the Assam Government will develop “Zubeen Khetra” with an expenditure of nearly ₹3 crore.
During his visit to the memorial site, the Chief Minister paid tribute to the late singer and said the government remains committed to transforming the area into a beautiful and well-planned memorial complex dedicated to Zubeen Garg’s legacy.
Sarma stated that the initial phase of the project will focus on the construction of a boundary wall around the memorial site at an estimated cost of ₹3 crore. He added that protective measures would also be taken to prevent soil erosion and landslides from the nearby hill area.
“The Public Works Department has already started preliminary work for the development of Zubeen Khetra. Once the boundary wall construction is completed, work on the main memorial complex will begin,” the Chief Minister said.
Accompanied by local MLA Tapan Das and Minister Pijush Hazarika, the Chief Minister inspected the site and reviewed the ongoing planning process. He directed officials to accelerate the work so that the memorial can be developed into a significant cultural landmark in Assam.
Speaking to the media, Himanta Biswa Sarma also appealed to political parties not to use Zubeen Garg’s image or legacy for political purposes. He alleged that some opposition leaders had attempted to politicise the singer’s death and memorial.
The Chief Minister claimed that the Congress party’s use of Zubeen Garg’s photographs during election campaigns had angered the public. “People want artists to remain above politics. Using Zubeen Garg’s photo at polling booths and party offices was not accepted by the people,” Sarma said.
He further claimed that the BJP benefited electorally because of public resentment over the alleged politicisation of the singer’s image. “We had taken a clear stand that BJP would never do politics using Zubeen Garg’s name,” he added.
Sarma also reflected on his repeated visits to the site during the planning stages of the singer’s final rites and memorial construction. He said political controversies surrounding the site had once made it uncomfortable for him to visit, but added that the focus is now gradually shifting back to preserving the artist’s music, memories, and contributions to Assamese culture.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, the Chief Minister said the Assam Government would continue working to ensure that Zubeen Khetra becomes a dignified and beautiful memorial dedicated to one of Assam’s most celebrated cultural icons.
