Not CM’s job to monitor land owners: Himanta on Ashok Singhal’s alleged plot near Zubeen Khetra

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday clarified that he has no knowledge of whether Cabinet Minister Ashok Singhal owns land near the proposed Zubeen Garg memorial. 

Addressing reporters, Sarma said, “I don’t know if the minister has land there or not. For Zubeen’s memorial, the government has allotted 10 bighas of land — the same as we did for Bhupen Hazarika. We have maintained a balance in honouring both equally.”

The Chief Minister asserted that it is not his responsibility to inquire into private land ownership. 

“Why should the CM look into whose land lies around the memorial? That is not my job,” he said, adding that if there is any shortage of land, the government will resolve it and ensure parity between the memorials of Bhupen Hazarika and Zubeen Garg.

Also Read: Himanta sets December 8 deadline for chargesheet in Zubeen Garg 'murder' case

Further, Himanta Biswa Sarma, on November 3, announced that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the death of popular singer Zubeen Garg has been directed to submit the chargesheet by December 8, advancing the original deadline from December 17.

Addressing a press conference, the Chief Minister said, “The chargesheet into the probe for Zubeen’s murder case should have been given by December 17, but I have given a new target of December 8. We are ready from all sides.”

Explaining the procedural delay, Sarma noted that since the incident occurred on foreign soil, prior permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is required before filing the chargesheet.