New Delhi: The removal of a Zubeen Garg mural from beneath the Ganeshguri Flyover in Guwahati has triggered widespread pubic anger. Local residents are now protesting the removal, calling it an erasure of the singer’s legacy. They have reportedly been joined by the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti members.
The mural featured the words “Comrade never die,” and was seen as a soulful tribute to Assam’s beloved singer. It had become a familiar landmark for commuters.
Reports soon emerged that the mural had been coloured over during a beautification drive by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC). Garg’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg, expressed her sadness in a Facebook post.
“Can you erase your loved ones from people’s hearts like in the picture? I am sad, but not angry or resentful,” she wrote in Assamese.
‘GMC not responsible’
Fans have expressed their anger on X. Content creator Nitin wrote in a post that the legendary singer is part of Assam’s soul and culture. In attempting to turn Guwahati into any other metropolitan city, the authorities are erasing its identity.
Wht is this nonsense?It's very sad to see removal of our heartthrob's painting. Use tht purple makeover wherever u want but atleast spare the ZG painting. Ghy isnot like other metrocities don't kill the Assamese vibes of the city. ZG is our culture's soul don't tke it away frm us pic.twitter.com/jN3XHE6B6J
— Nitin (@intent45264) June 18, 2026
“All his life he stood for the race, the community and for humanity and we failed him,” wrote student Sujata Gurung Chowdhury. “#Justiceforzubeen was more than just the stream of FIRs, charge sharts, SITs and whatever, it was seeking justice for what Zubeen Garg stood for all his life.”
X user Biju mentioned that two paintings depicting nature were destroyed last year, but he hadn’t imagined that Garg’s mural would be removed too.
“We have one question: what threat did this mural of Zubeen da posses, that you have destroyed it, destroyed our sentiment ?” he asked.
Amid public outrage, Guwahati mayor Mrigen Sarania has now said that the GMC is not behind the removal of the mural.
“GMC is not responsible for the re-painting job. We don’t have enough money to do that. It comes under a specific department. It must have been the contractor or the labourer to have done that,” the Sarania said.
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