Guwahati (PTI): Even after the passage of a month after the death of cultural icon Zubeen Garg, people of Assam continued to mourn the loss, seeking answers on the final moments of the singer.
Garg died while swimming in the sea in Singapore on September 19.
Garg's wife, Garima, said the family, along with the people of the state, are waiting to know what happened in his final moments, and expressed faith in the legal system to unravel the truth.
Hundreds thronged Garg's cremation site at Sonapur, on the outskirts of Guwahati, since early this morning, paying tributes to their beloved singer-composer.
Fans and friends of the singer-composer also visited his residence at Kahilipara area of the city and his studio in Zoo Road area to be with his family and join them in remembering him.
A 10-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) of state police's CID is probing his death, with seven persons being arrested so far.
Singapore Police are also conducting its investigation, with SIT officers from Assam set to visit the Southeast Asian nation as part of its own probe.
Vedic rituals related to the occasion were organised by the family at his studio, with Garg's father, wife, sister and others joining it.
Speaking to reporters outside the studio, Garima said, "The studio was dear to him. Since the initial rituals were performed at our residence and Jorhat, we decided to perform the Vedic rituals on completion of one month here."
Asked for her comment on the police probe into Garg's death, she said, "We have faith in the investigation. Whom do we trust if not our own legal system? Zubeen was a straight-forward person and we want straight-forward investigation."
"We are all waiting peacefully to know what happened. People of Assam are waiting to know what happened in his last moments," Garima added.
Italian opera singer Gioconda Vessichelli, with whom Garg had collaborated for his yet-to-be released movie, also reached Guwahati to pay tributes to the cultural icon.
"Zubeen da used to say that she (Garima) is his tigress, who stood by him in good and bad times. And he was right," Vessichelli said, standing alongside Garima.
She recalled her earlier visit to Guwahati to shoot with Garg, when she came into contact with his family.
"There is so much love in the family. I feel Zubeen da is here. I already feel the gods have done justice to Zubeen Garg," Vessichelli added, referring to lakhs of people coming out to pay their last respects to Garg's mortal remains and participating in his funeral procession.
Fans came in private cars and buses to be at the final resting site of Garg, which has been drawing visitors by the thousand for the last one month.
"We booked two buses and are a group of over 100 people. We wanted to be here with Zubeen da and pay our homage," said a woman who had come from Boko in Kamrup district.
Another group of women from West Karbi Anglong district arrived with a framed photograph of Garg as a mark of their last respect.
People brought 'gamosas' (Assamese scarf) with lyrics of his songs written, his photographs and other items, besides lighting earthen lamps and incense sticks, in front of his cremation site.
Fans raised slogans like 'Joi Zubeen' and 'Justice for Zubeen' at the site.
'Naam' (Vasihnavite prayer songs) were performed at the site by people from different places, with programmes featuring Garg's songs and others lined up for the day.
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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
