Assam News: Ahead of next year’s assembly elections, Assam is witnessing a major political shift. The death of Zubin Garg, a popular Assamese singer and cultural icon, has not only emotionally shaken the state but also heated up the political atmosphere. Gaurav Gogoi, Congress President of Assam and Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha, said he sensed growing dissatisfaction among the people of the state with the current government. He said, “The people of Assam now want change. The way the current leadership has handled the situation following Zubin Garg’s death is extremely disappointing. In a few months, we will strengthen the organization and present a new alternative to the public, and I am confident that the Congress will form the government in the 2026 elections.”
“Zubin Garg left a legacy of fearlessness”
Remembering Zubin Garg, Gaurav Gogoi said that he was a fearless person who had the courage to speak his mind openly. He never engaged in politics by being tied to any party—sometimes supporting the Congress, sometimes the BJP. But whenever he disagreed with something, he spoke openly, even against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies. Gogoi said, “Today, people are remembering Zubin’s fearlessness. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s rule in Assam is based on the politics of fear and intimidation. Anyone who criticizes him is threatened with police action or imprisonment. Journalists, intellectuals, women—no one is safe. Zubin’s death has emboldened people, and they are now speaking out openly against the government.”
Regarding Chief Minister Sarma’s personal attacks and allegations of links to Pakistan, Gaurav Gogoi said, “These allegations are baseless and ridiculous. I don’t care about them, but what worries me is the public’s fear. People who speak out against the government are being jailed. If a journalist exposes corruption or a poet writes a poem on Facebook, they are arrested. I don’t want the people of Assam to live in fear. In a democracy, the public has the right to question the government. If our government is formed tomorrow and we make a mistake, the public has every right to call us out.”
“Assam needs an identity of development, not division.”
Speaking on the issues of the upcoming elections, Gogoi said that Assam needs leaders who dream of the state’s progress, not of increasing their family’s wealth. He said, “We want Assam to be known for its cultural heritage, education, sports, industry, and music—not for politicians’ controversial statements and divisive politics.” He also criticized a recent promotional song that labeled him an “illegal immigrant.” Gogoi said, “The people of Assam no longer fall for these false narratives. They are seeing the true soul of Assam in Zubin Garg’s songs—where humanity, brotherhood, and the beauty of diversity reside. What Zubin envisioned as ‘Bored Assam’ is the true identity of our state.”
