STRIKING A CHORD

When Congress leader Rahul Gandhi landed in Assam on October 17 to pay tribute to the late Zubeen Garg, nearly a month after the singer's death in Singapore, the visit hit a few political side notes of its own.

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Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wasted no time taking a jab, saying Rahul had arrived “28 days too late” and accused the Congress of indifference toward Assam, alleging that “no big leader” had come when Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika had died in 2011 as well. Within hours, however, the internet dug out Himanta’s own post from his Congress days, featuring a photograph of Rahul paying his respects to Hazarika. Rahul, for his part, stayed clear of politics. At Zubeen‘s home, he said he understood why the musician called himself Kanchenjunga. “Like the Kanchenjunga, Zubeen was honest, transparent, unshakeable and beautiful,” he said. Try finding fault with that!

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