Guwahati, Oct 16: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday condemned individuals and political groups who defamed singer Zubeen Garg during his lifetime but began praising him after his death. He criticized the use of the singer’s name for political gains ahead of the assembly elections.

The remarks came following an incident in Baksa district where police used force to disperse a mob attacking the convoy of five people arrested in connection with Zubeen Garg’s death. Posting on ‘X,’ Sarma said many who had once criticized the singer have now turned into his admirers, calling them fake fans exploiting Zubeen’s name to target the BJP.

Sarma alleged that false narratives are being spread by certain political parties to incite unrest, which he described as dangerous and comparable to the disturbances during the Citizenship Amendment Act protests. He urged citizens to trust the judicial process and avoid being misled by vested interests.

Highlighting that genuine respect is shown while a person is alive, the Chief Minister pointed out that many of those now claiming to be fans had previously criticized Zubeen and deleted those posts after his death. He warned that such elements could attempt to maintain tensions until violent incidents occur or a situation similar to Nepal arises in Assam.

The Assam government’s Special Investigation Team continues to probe the circumstances surrounding Zubeen Garg’s death by drowning in Singapore on September 19.