Priyanka responds to India Today's question on politics over Zubeen

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday, April 1, responded to the question on politics over Zubeen Garg's death case stating that she has lost family members to violence, so politicising Zubeen's death is the last thing she will do.

Responding to India Today's question, Gandhi said that while tragedies should ideally remain above politics, elected representatives cannot ignore widespread public sentiment demanding accountability. She emphasised that acknowledging such concerns and promising efforts to ensure justice was part of a politician’s responsibility.

“Millions of people in Assam revered him. When there is a strong public demand that justice be delivered, it is our duty to respond. How can we ignore that?” she said, adding that committing to pursue justice within a defined timeframe should not be viewed as political opportunism.

Priyanka Gandhi also underlined her personal aversion to politicising tragedies, citing her own experience of losing family members to violence. “Politicising such a loss is the last thing I would want to do,” she said, while acknowledging that politicians inevitably operate within a charged environment.

Her remarks come amid sharp criticism from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who accused the Congress of indulging in “politics” by referencing Zubeen Garg’s death in its election manifesto. Speaking on the sidelines of a BJP manifesto release event, CM Sarma said the late singer was deeply loved across Assam and described it as “unfortunate and sad” to invoke his name. 

While the Congress maintains that its stance reflects public sentiment and a commitment to justice, the BJP has framed the move as an attempt to leverage a sensitive issue for electoral gain.