In a midnight visit to Zubeen Khetra in Sonapur, renowned Assamese singer and composer Manas Robin strongly opposed the government’s move to impose a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) at the memorial site dedicated to late music legend Zubeen Garg. Calling the restrictions unnecessary and insensitive, Robin said that Zubeen’s resting place belonged to the people of Assam and should always remain open and free for them to visit.
Shortly after offering his floral tributes at the memorial, Robin spoke to the media gathered outside the premises. His words were direct and filled with emotion. “There is no need for any SOP in Zubeen Khetra,” he said, standing near the gate of the site. “This place is built in memory of the people’s artist. The people should be allowed to come here freely without being stopped by anyone.”
Robin accused the authorities of deploying excessive security personnel at the memorial, which, according to him, was discouraging fans and visitors from paying their respects. “Remove unnecessary guards who are preventing people from entering. Instead, deploy security in a way that manages the crowd respectfully. If needed, have guards work in two shifts so that people can visit peacefully,” he said. 
The celebrated composer further said that the government should stop treating Zubeen Khetra like an official site governed by paperwork and protocols. “Why should Zubeen’s memorial have an SOP at all? Zubeen was not a government institution; he was the voice of the people. The government must stop making decisions privately without asking the public,” he stated.
Robin also said that decisions about public access to Zubeen Khetra should never be made behind closed doors by political leaders or bureaucrats. He mentioned several public figures, saying, “Decisions on Zubeen Khetra should not be taken privately by anyone — not by Paresh Baruah, Akhil Gogoi, Gaurav Gogoi, or Himanta Biswa Sarma. If any decision is to be made, it should be made after consulting the people of Assam.”
