Congress Member of Parliament Gaurav Gogoi has formally called for a detailed investigation by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) into the tragic and controversial death of legendary Assamese singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore. The incident, which occurred in September, has taken a serious turn with the Assam Chief Minister publicly stating it was a murder.
MP's Letter Highlights Murder Claims and Festival Links
In a letter addressed to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, Gogoi, who serves as the deputy leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party in the Lok Sabha, brought urgent attention to the matter. He referenced a statement made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in the state Assembly on November 24. The Chief Minister revealed that findings from a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Assam Police indicated that Zubeen Garg's death "was a murder." Sarma further stated that multiple individuals had been booked, with the alleged crime being planned and executed by a group.
Gogoi raised a particularly alarming connection in his communication. He pointed out that one of the accused named in the ongoing investigation had direct links to the organisation of the North East India Festival 2025 in Singapore, where Garg was scheduled to perform. This festival was organised by the MEA with support from the High Commission of India in Singapore.
Deeply Troubling Financial and Organisational Ties
The Congress MP elaborated that the accused individual ran an organisation which, over several years, had received "substantial payments amounting to several lakhs of rupees" from the MEA for managing similar cultural events. Gogoi described the association between an MEA-linked event organiser and an accused in a murder case as "deeply troubling" and demanded official clarification on the exact nature of this relationship.
Expressing further disappointment, Gogoi noted that despite the sudden and shocking death of a cultural icon of Zubeen Garg's stature, media reports suggested the North East India Festival in Singapore proceeded as scheduled on September 19-20. He argued that given the gravity of the situation, it would have been appropriate for the government to cancel or postpone the festival as a mark of respect and in light of the serious allegations.
A Call for Truth, Justice, and Government Transparency
Stressing that the event was an official engagement of the Government of India, Gogoi urged the MEA to issue a public statement addressing the Assam Chief Minister's claims and clarifying all questionable associations. He emphasised that the people of Northeast India and the grieving family of Zubeen Garg deserve "truth and justice."
The MP called for the ministry's immediate intervention to ensure complete transparency in the matter, underscoring the need for a swift and impartial inquiry to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the singer's death in Singapore. The case has sent shockwaves through the cultural community and the public, who are eagerly awaiting answers from the authorities.
