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Guwahati: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Monday, said that the immediate priority of his government is to ensure an early justice for late cultural icon Zubeen Garg while asserting his death as a “murder” and not merely an incident or accident. Mr Sarma told reporters, “Today, I will not address Zubeen Garg’s death as a mere incident or accident but as a murder case.” Informing that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case is prepared to file its charge sheet before December 17, with a target date of December 8, the chief minister said, “If something happens in a foreign land, we can file the chargesheet only after the approval of the ministry of home affairs. Yesterday, I met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and requested early clearance. I believe that the SIT will soon write to the MHA, and once we get approval, we will immediately file the chargesheet; most likely by December 8.” Mr Sarma also clarified that the government has allotted 10 bighas for the Zubeen Garg’s Samadhi, in keeping with a similar gesture made for Dr Bhupen Hazarika’s memorial. “We have provided 10 bighas for Zubeen Samadhi, just as we did for Dr Bhupen Hazarika. We wanted to maintain parity between both their resting places by offering similar land size,” said Mr Sarma pointing out that he was not aware if health minister Ashok Singhal owns land in the area. “Why should I check who owns land on either side of the khetra; that is not my responsibility,” he added. Speaking at a cheque distribution event under the Mukhya Mantrir Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan (MMUA) in Jamugurihat, Sonitpur district, Mr Sarma reiterated that the government’s focus remains on bringing closure to the Zubeen Garg case before addressing other matters. “Gaurav Gogoi is 100 percent a Pakistani agent. Our first priority is Zubeen Garg. If we jump to these things before filing the chargesheet, people will not be happy,” said Mr Sarma in reference to state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, whom he accused of having links with Pakistan. The chief minister reiterated that the government would reveal details of the alleged connection only after the SIT files its report. “Even if we disclose the findings in January, it won’t change anything. If the enemy party demands it on the 10th, I will do it the next day. I’m not going to work as per our enemy,” he said. The Assam chief minister said this in response to charges of the Assam Congress which alleged him of “concealing facts” and “misleading the public.”
