Union Minister of State Pabitra Margherita and BJP MLA Rupak Sarmah have distanced themselves from a proposed Zubeen Mahotsav in Guwahati, clarifying that they are not associated with the event. Margherita also stated that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has no connection with the proposed festival, which has come under scrutiny over the alleged use of names of individuals on its organising committee without their consent.
Margherita issued the clarification in a social media post on Monday, October 12, amid growing controversy over the proposed non-governmental event being planned in memory of late Assamese singer and musician Zubeen Garg.
“The Chief Minister and I are not associated with any proposed non-governmental mahotsav or event in the name of the great artist Zubeen Garg in Guwahati,” Margherita wrote.
Rupak Sarmah, the BJP MLA from Nagaon, also denied any involvement in the proposed festival. In a separate social media post, he said he had learnt about the matter through news reports and clarified that he was not associated with the event.
The clarifications came after the organisers announced plans to hold a three-day Zubeen Mahotsav at Latasil field in Guwahati from November 18 to 20. The proposed festival is intended to mark the birth anniversary of Garg, who died in Singapore on September 19, 2025.
The event has faced objections from Garg’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg, and All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) president Utpal Sarma, both of whom have said their names were included in the proposed organising committee without their consent.
According to the committee details circulated by the organisers, Garima was named chief adviser, while Utpal Sarma and AASU chief adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharjya were listed as patrons.
Garima has categorically denied agreeing to serve as chief adviser and stated that she was not associated with the proposed festival in any capacity. She also said the organisers had not formally approached the Zubeen Garg Trust regarding the event.
Questioning the inclusion of her name without permission, Garima expressed concern that such a move could mislead the public and create confusion about her involvement in the programme.
The controversy has raised questions about the process followed by the organisers in preparing the proposed committee and obtaining consent from those named in it. The public clarifications by Margherita and Sarmah have further highlighted the lack of confirmed association between the proposed event and several prominent individuals whose names were reportedly included in its organising structure.
Meanwhile, an alternative programme to commemorate Garg’s birth anniversary is being planned in Dibrugarh. The All Assam Zubeen Garg Fan Club, with support from local residents, has announced plans to observe the occasion as Srishtir Din, meaning a day dedicated to creativity.
The initiative is intended to celebrate the singer’s creative contribution and cultural legacy. Garg, one of Assam’s most influential and widely loved musical figures, had a lasting impact on Assamese music and popular culture.
With objections emerging over the proposed Guwahati festival and several individuals publicly denying any association with it, the event has drawn attention even before its scheduled dates. The central issue remains the alleged inclusion of names in the organising committee without prior consent and the need for clarity over who is officially involved in the programme.
