Guwahati: Former Assam minister and Congress leader Neelamani Sen Deka has made a series of allegations against several political groups and organisations over the ongoing movement demanding justice for singer Zubeen Garg.
Sen Deka alleged that Akhil Gogoi, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), Badruddin Ajmal and the ULFA were acting as protectors of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He claimed that these groups resort to different forms of agitation whenever the government faces political pressure.
According to Sen Deka, the protests initiated by Akhil Gogoi and AASU amid the growing public demand for justice for Zubeen Garg were aimed at shielding the government from criticism. These are political allegations made by the former minister.
He also questioned the role of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing Zubeen Garg’s death. Referring to the Chief Minister’s statement in the Assembly that one person had committed the murder while four others had assisted, Sen Deka asked whether the SIT had questioned the Chief Minister and Union Minister of State Pabitra Margherita.
He further questioned whether companies, agents and other entities associated with sponsoring events involving Zubeen Garg had been examined by the SIT, either as accused or as witnesses.
Sen Deka said he would support the statement made by Anand Kumar Bhuyan if these individuals had not been questioned. Referring to Bhuyan’s remarks, he alleged that the chargesheet was intended to benefit the accused and protect the government.
The former minister also expressed doubts about the prospects of justice in the case unless the SIT questioned the Chief Minister. He raised questions about the government’s conduct in appointing lawyers for the case and argued that Zubeen Garg’s wife, Garima Garg, should be allowed to choose a lawyer of her choice, with the government bearing the expenses.
Sen Deka alleged that the government’s failure to make such an offer raised questions about its involvement in the matter. He reiterated his claim that the protests by Akhil Gogoi, AASU and ULFA were aimed at protecting the government.
