Guwahati, May 20 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said that attempts to politicise the legacy of iconic Assamese singer Zubeen Garg had hurt public sentiment, asserting that people wanted the celebrated artist to remain above political affiliations.

Speaking to reporters at “Zubeen Khetra”, the memorial site on the outskirts of Guwahati where the singer’s last rites were performed, Sarma said he had personally visited the location multiple times during the process of selecting the site and arranging the singer’s final journey.

“This place was chosen after a lot of thought, and I came here many times during that period. We were here to make arrangements for Zubeen Garg’s last rites and final journey. But later, some politically associated people created so much politics around it that at one point it became uncomfortable to come here,” the Chief Minister said.

According to Sarma, discussions around the site gradually shifted away from the singer’s life and contributions towards political debates. “At one stage, politics began to dominate discussions more than Zubeen Garg himself. I knew that after the elections, politics would slowly fade and the real identity of Garg, his artistic spirit, his character and his contribution would naturally come forward again,” he said.

The Chief Minister said he now feels that people are increasingly discussing how to preserve the singer’s memories, music and cultural contributions rather than engaging in political arguments. Sarma also alleged that many people who later tried to associate themselves with the singer had earlier been critical of him during his lifetime.

“Those who came here and did politics had often criticised Zubeen Garg when he was alive. Their friendship was for a different purpose. But for us, Zubeen Garg was always very special; he remains so today, and he will remain so in the future,” he said.

The Chief Minister further claimed that the alleged politicisation of the singer during the elections had backfired on opposition parties. Referring to the use of the singer’s photographs at polling booths and party offices by the Congress party, Sarma said people did not appreciate attempts to politically appropriate an artist.

“People want artists to remain non-political. BJP took a clear stand that we would not do politics in Zubeen Garg’s name, and time has proved that it was the correct decision,” he added.

–IANS

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