Paying tributes to Assamese singer, the Leader of the Opposition said India and Assam have lost not just an artist, but a towering soul who touched countless hearts. He also expressed solidarity with the family of Hariom Valmiki who was killed in mob lynching incident.
NEW DELHI – Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday visited the families of popular Assamese singer Zubeen Garg in Guwahati and Hariom Valmiki, a Dalit youth from Uttar Pradesh’s Raebareli who was killed in a mob lynching incident.
In Assam, Gandhi paid homage to Zubeen Garg and met his family members, urging the authorities to conduct a transparent probe into the singer’s death. “The people of Assam deserve to know the truth about what led to Zubeen Da’s death,” he said.
Speaking to reporters, Gandhi expressed deep sorrow over the loss.
“It’s very sad for me to come here like this. I would have liked to visit under happier circumstances,” he said.
Drawing an emotional analogy, Gandhi compared Garg to Mount Kanchenjunga, describing him as “honest, transparent, unshakable, and beautiful — just like the mountain.”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi wrote:
“Zubeen Da was like Kanchenjunga — honest, unshakable, and beautiful. India and Assam have lost not just an artist, but a towering soul who touched countless hearts.”
He said those qualities defined not only Garg’s music but also his character and life, adding that the singer’s humility despite his fame reflected “a simplicity that touched countless hearts.”
“You can see the worth of a person in their house. Zubeen had wealth, success, and humility — something Assam should be extremely proud of,” Gandhi said, lauding the singer’s family for nurturing his talent and helping him give Assam a unique voice on the national stage.
Emphasising that both the family and fans deserve clarity, he added, “The family has lost Zubeen, and all they want is closure. The people of Assam also want to know what really happened.”
Later in the day, Gandhi visited the family of Hariom Valmiki in Raebareli. He alleged that the Uttar Pradesh government had intimidated the victim’s family and tried to prevent them from meeting him.
“The brutal murder of Hariom Valmiki has shaken the conscience of the entire nation,” Gandhi said. “There was a question in the eyes of his family, filled with pain — is being a Dalit in this country still a deadly crime?”
He accused the state administration of shielding the culprits while pressuring the victims.
“In Uttar Pradesh, the administration is busy intimidating the victim’s family. They even tried to stop them from meeting me. This is the same systemic failure that always protects the guilty and puts the victims on trial,” he remarked.
“Justice cannot be kept under house arrest,” he said, urging the BJP government in UP to end pressure on the victim’s family and ensure strict punishment for the guilty.
Assuring the family of his full support, Gandhi said, “I stand firmly with Hariom Valmiki’s family and with every exploited, deprived, and weak citizen of this country. This fight is not just for Hariom — it is for every voice that refuses to bow before injustice.”
