In a move that can be termed as the perfect response to Shiv Sena’s brand of hate politics, renowned Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali has received invitation to perform in Delhi after threats led to his concert in Mumbai to be cancelled. Kapil Mishra, the minister who handles law, art and culture in the Aam Aadmi Party ruled Delhi government has invited the singer to perform at a concert in Delhi.
The move comes after Shiv Sena strongly objected to Ghulam Ali’s concert scheduled to be be held at Mumbai’s Shanmukhanand Hall on October 9 which subsequently got cancelled. A Sena leader had reportedly told officials, “That at a time when Pakistan has targeted Indian soldiers, decapitated them and returned their headless bodies, India should not be enjoying cultural relations with them,” reports NDTV .
Ghulam Ali who he been very hurt with the protest said that such controversies spoil the ‘sur of music’. “I have always got love in India.The concert was a tribute for Jagjit Singh. He was like a brother to me,” he told NDTV .
Shiv Sena, however, have made an art out of this. In April this year, The Hindu reported that Shiv Sena had protested against Atif Aslam’s concert , a Pakistani pop singer who has huge fan base in India which was scheduled to be held in Pune. The organisers of the event thus had to cancel the concert fearing a ‘law and order’ situation.
As per a report by The Tribune , such similar threats by the Sena had even forced Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to change venues of all Pakistan matches of the upcoming 2016 World Twenty20 from Maharashtra fearing ‘security risks’ in August this year.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that Ghulam Ali is welcome to perform in Mumbai and has assured full security for the event as well for the singer.
Feature image source: PTI