Himanta Accuses Shyamkanu Mahanta of Exploiting Zubeen and Running Anti-Modi Campaign, Says He Misrepresents Assam’s Culture

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has strongly criticized Shyamkanu Mahanta, accusing him of exploiting the late cultural icon Zubeen Garg for personal gains while running an anti-Modi campaign during the 2024 parliamentary elections. Sarma claimed he had warned about Mahanta six years ago, emphasizing that Zubeen should not be compared to ordinary individuals. He highlighted Mahanta’s consistent criticism of Prime Minister Modi and BJP during the elections and stated that Mahanta misrepresents Assam’s culture, failing to reflect its true ethos in festivals like Rongali and the NE Festival. Sarma clarified he has never personally interacted with Mahanta.