Guwahati: The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) has announced that it will stage a sit-in protest on February 27 demanding justice for Zubeen Garg. At a press conference held at the party’s central office on Saturday, the party levelled serious allegations against the BJP government, claiming there has been no sincerity in ensuring justice in connection with the artiste’s death (Zubeen Garg Justice Protest).
Party president Lurinjyoti Gogoi said the government has failed to demonstrate genuine commitment. “If the case continues at this pace, justice may take at least 20 years,” he remarked, questioning the delay in setting up a Fast Track Court. He alleged that the government is merely creating a pretence of action to cross the elections. “If there was real intent, why has the Fast Track Court not been formed even after 71 days?” he asked.
Recounting the sequence of events, Gogoi said Zubeen Garg passed away on September 19, 2025. His mortal remains were brought to Guwahati on September 21, and his last rites were performed at Sonapur on September 23. As of February 21, 2026, five months and two days have passed since his death.
The Chief Minister had announced an SIT probe on September 20, and the SIT was formed on September 24. A commission of inquiry headed by retired judge Soumitra Saikia was constituted on October 3. On November 3, the Chief Minister stated during a Facebook Live that Zubeen Garg had been murdered. Shyamkannu Mahanta and Siddhartha Sharma were arrested on October 1, while the remaining five accused were arrested within the first week of October. The SIT filed its chargesheet on December 12, 2025. On the same day, the Chief Minister announced that a Fast Track Court would be set up to expedite the trial. However, as of February 21, 2026 — 71 days or two months and nine days later — no such court has been constituted.
Gogoi questioned the delay. “Is it that the Chief Minister does not truly want justice in what he himself called a murder?” he asked.
He further alleged that from the Chief Minister to the Prime Minister, from the state government to the central government, and from the BJP to the RSS, Zubeen Garg has been neglected. He pointed out that after Zubeen’s death, the Prime Minister visited Assam three times and Union Home Minister Amit Shah also came three times, yet neither visited Zubeen’s site nor mentioned his name in their speeches. Since attending the funeral rites on September 23, the Chief Minister has not visited the memorial site. He did not watch Zubeen’s last film “Roi Roi Binale,” nor was the film declared tax-free, though “The Kashmir Files” had received tax exemption. Construction work at the Zubeen site has not begun, and no measures have been taken to maintain its cleanliness. During the 9th Assam State Film Awards held at Jyoti Chitraban on February 15 and 16, no tribute was paid to him. Only the Governor mentioned his name and paid homage.
On the legal proceedings, Gogoi said the progress has been far from satisfactory. The trial began on December 22 last year when all seven accused were produced virtually before the court. Several hearings were held between December 22 and February 16. Without a Fast Track Court, he said, the process remains routine — “date after date.”
Citing a lawyer, he added that at this rate, the trial could take 20 years, especially considering that statements of 400 witnesses will need to be recorded and cross-examined. He also noted that in the proceedings ongoing in Singapore’s Corona Court, the state government has not appointed a single advocate. “Only Zubeen’s family is pursuing the case,” he said, arguing that this reflects a lack of sincerity on the part of the government.
Gogoi also described as mysterious the withdrawal of bail petitions by the accused. “Legal experts say that if they had pressed their bail pleas, they might have secured bail,” he said, adding that people suspect some form of understanding may have led to the withdrawal.
Thanking BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary for allotting 30 bighas of land in Kokrajhar for construction of a Zubeen site, Gogoi contrasted this with the state government’s failure to provide the necessary land for the proposed site at Sonapur.
Party general secretary Jagadish Bhuyan echoed similar concerns. He said that earlier the BJP had organised rallies across districts with slogans such as “Moiu Zubeen, Amiu Zubeen” and later “Moiu Zubeen Anuragi, Amiu Zubeen Anuragi,” but these were discontinued due to lack of public response. He also pointed out that the Chief Minister had described himself as Zubeen Garg’s number one fan, yet did not go to watch his final film.
“We have been saying from the first day that this government does not intend to deliver justice,” Bhuyan stated. “If there was sincerity, the investigation into an incident that occurred abroad would not have been handed to Assam Police CID but to a national agency like the CBI.” He argued that CID does not have jurisdiction outside Assam or India. He also questioned why, of the 15 people who had gone to the sea with Zubeen, only four were arrested while others were not brought before the law.
Regarding the delay in forming a Fast Track Court, Bhuyan suggested another possibility. “If a Fast Track Court is formed, the entire trial could conclude within a month or one and a half months,” he said. “Then, due to a weak investigation or flawed chargesheet, the accused may be acquitted, and the government’s pretence would be exposed.”
He expressed apprehension that the government might constitute a Fast Track Court 10 to 15 days before elections to create an impression of action, though the trial would not conclude before voting. After the elections, he alleged, the accused could safely walk out of jail.
“If the government has even minimum moral responsibility and genuine intent,” Bhuyan said, “it should ensure before the elections that the accused are proven guilty in court and receive appropriate punishment.”
He added that Zubeen Garg remains in the hearts of people and will continue to do so. No effort, he said, can erase that public memory.
The press conference concluded with Lurinjyoti Gogoi formally announcing that the Assam Jatiya Parishad will hold a sit-in protest on February 27 demanding justice. Party secretaries Chittaranjan Basumatary, Raju Phukan, Jiaur Rahman and Manik Gogoi were also present.
Asom Jatiya Parishad Alleges Deliberate Delay in Justice for Zubeen Garg, Demands Fast-Track Court