Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Hundreds gathered in Digboi on Saturday to place the cremated remains of legendary singer Zubeen Garg at a site meant for his memorial. The crowd marked his first death anniversary with a show of frustration. They want the Zubeen Udyan project finished. Local leaders and community groups joined the event to signal their impatience with the Assam Oil Division, or AOD.
Former pro-talk ULFA leader Jiten Dutta claims the AOD promised to build the park and install a statue one year ago. Nothing happened. Dutta said, "One year has elapsed since the Indian Oil authority, Assam Oil Division, Digboi unit, assured us that this area would be developed into Zubeen Udyan with necessary planning and a statue would be raised here. But the assurance remains unfulfilled."
Dutta suspects the AOD will reject the project. He gave the company one month to act or face further public pressure. Former ULFA member Babul Gogoi vowed to keep fighting for the land. Businessman Purna Bora also questioned why the firm allows private encroachment but blocks a memorial with deep emotional ties to the public. He asked, "If encroachment by private individuals or miscreants is allowed on AOD land, why then cannot AOD provide land for the Udyan, which is strongly and emotionally associated with the sentiments of the greater Assamese public?"
AOD General Manager for HR, Amar Borgohain, previously told the public the site would become a memorial. The Corporate Communications Department claims they still wait for word from Delhi. The company has not provided a formal update. Meanwhile, local businesses closed for 90 minutes on Saturday evening as residents lit candles to honor the late singer. Protesters plan to erect a large statue regardless of AOD approval.
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