Congress leader Rahul Gandhi paid tributes to deceased singer Zubeen Garg on Friday. He visited Sonapur on the outskirts of Guwahati, where Garg’s last rites were performed.
Gandhi offered the traditional Assamese scarf, called ‘gamosa’, and a wreath at the platform where the singer was cremated.
He was accompanied by Congress’ Assam unit president Gaurav Gogoi, and the party’s Assam leader Jitendra Singh.
A huge crowd had gathered at the site, shouting slogans, ‘justice for Zubeen’.
Gandhi is expected to visit the singer’s home later in the day to convey his condolences to the grief-stricken family.
The 52-year-old singer died in September in Singapore. The Assam government has constituted a special investigation team to investigate Zubeen’s death.
He was cremated with state honours on September 23 near Guwahati.
On October 16, as the Congress leader announced his visit to Assam, the state's Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, had said that Congress MP Rahul Gandhi would come to Assam to pay tribute to Zubeen Garg after 28 days of his death.
Sarma added, "But it is still better late than never. We had expected a senior Congress leader like Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, or someone else to be present at the singer's cremation."
The chief minister added that as the Gandhi is coming to pay his tribute to the singer, ''we welcome his visit to the state''.
Five people have been arrested in connection with the singer’s death. On October 15, the accused were sent to judicial custody.
A large crowd gathered outside Baksa District Jail after reports of the accused being transported in a police convoy surfaced.
The protesters blocked the entrance of the jail and hurled stones at the convoy. To disperse the demonstrators, police resorted to baton charge, tear gas and rubber bullets, leaving many injured.
The Assam government has put restrictions on the public movement owing to unrest following Zubeen’s death.
