The Chief Minister has vehemently responded to criticisms from the Congress party regarding the Zubeen Garg case, emphasizing the inappropriateness of politicizing such matters during elections. He highlighted the lack of genuine concern from Congress, questioning why Priyanka Gandhi did not donate blood on Zubeen’s birthday or visit the families of 860 martyrs, stating that Congress has exploited the situation for political gain. He declared that leaders from his party would only visit Zubeen’s site after the elections to avoid any perceptions of politicization.
The Chief Minister asserted his intention not to visit Zubeen’s location while elections are ongoing, indicating that if re-elected, he would consider a visit then. In response to calls for a fast-track court for the Zubeen Garg case, he expressed skepticism, noting that the current judge has consistently rejected bail applications, suggesting that a push for a fast-track court may be a strategy to influence the case politically. He maintained that should there be a public consensus for a fast-track court, he would facilitate it, but raised concerns about the political motives behind such demands, questioning if the objective was to ensure bail for certain individuals to undermine him politically. He construed these efforts as manipulative tactics by Congress and some media factions, arguing that a different judge might have facilitated quicker bail processes for defendants in similar cases.