The Congress on Sunday announced five guarantees for poll-bound Assam, including a promise of “justice for singer Zubeen Garg within 100 days” if voted to power.
Addressing a rally in Naoboicha in Lakhimpur district, party president Mallikarjun Kharge said the Congress would investigate who “murdered” the Assamese singer and present the findings within the specified time, The Hindu reported.
Garg died on September 19 during a yacht trip in Singapore, a day before he was scheduled to perform at the North East India Festival there.
On Wednesday, a Singapore coroner’s inquiry ruled that the singer died of accidental drowning.
However, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has repeatedly claimed that the singer’s death was not accidental but was a murder.
Seven persons in India have been arrested in connection with the singer’s death. A Special Investigation Team filed a chargesheet on December 12, accusing four of the seven persons of murder.
On January 14, the authorities in the southeast Asian country said that Garg was “severely intoxicated” and had refused to wear a life jacket when he drowned while swimming in September.
On Wednesday, State Coroner Adam Nakhoda said that there was no reason to disagree with the Police Coast Guard’s conclusion after analysing the evidence before him.
In addition to investigating Garg’s death, the Congress on Monday also said that it would provide an “unconditional monthly cash transfer” to women to start or expand businesses.
It announced Rs 25 lakh in cashless health cover for families and a monthly pension of Rs 1,250 for senior citizens.
The Congress also promised land rights for 10 lakh tribal persons, including converting certain land holdings into permanent ownership.
The polls are scheduled to take place in a single phase on April 9. Votes will be counted on May 4 alongside those in West Bengal, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu.
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Why musician Zubeen Garg’s death has unleashed a storm of anger in Assam
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