'Bhupen Mama' is not a political tool: Zubeen Garg

Guwahati, January 28, 2019:

Assam’s heartthrob Zubeen Garg has finally admitted that the audio clip that had gone viral on social media belongs to him. An audio clip was circulating on social media where a voice similar to Zubeen’s was heard slamming the Bharat Ratna in an expletive-laced rant. After a case was filed against him, Zubeen took to Instagram to clarify his thoughts on the matter.

The clip that circulated on social media begins with the words "Politics nokoriba, bondhu" (Don't do politics, my friend). Then, the voice goes on to slam the ‘Bharat Ratna’. The clip circulated online after Assam’s cultural doyen, Xudakontha Bhupen Hazarika, was posthumously awarded India’s highest civilian award.

“Yes that was my voice. I don’t deny. I have that courage to say. Yes I said it. But why I said it? Why after 8 years they will use his name to motivate us politically? Why this sudden love? He is beyond that. He lives with us. He should have got it 10 years back when he was alive. When he was alone, who stood with him?” queried Zubeen, slamming the BJP government for using Hazarika’s name for political gains.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BtJOEQ4h78k/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Meanwhile, Assam’s former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has questioned why Zubeen has not been awarded the Padma Shri. “Why has Zubeen not been given the Padma Shri? I tell you why it is because he is against the (Citizenship amendment) Bill”, stated the former CM. The former CM also alleged that had Hazarika been alive, he would not have received the honor as he too would have joined protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.