Minister invites Ghulam Ali to perform in Delhi

“During the Congress regime, we had to go through similar scenario where Pakistani actors and performers were obstructed from performing”, he said.

“My government is prepared to give complete protection to Ali’s concert in Mumbai”.

“Are we at war with Pakistan?” And that’s why I got tense and thought that the move was wrong.

“This should not be seen as India-Pakistan issue”. So the anger seems to be at its peak right now, probably that was the reason. #Shame (sic).” His composing partner Shekhar wrote, “Ghulam Ali Saab is our guest. Very few people are aware about this side of his personality. This (opposition to Pakistan) should not be dragged to the level of artist. “We ask for the organisers for cancelling the gig today”. And that didn’t seem possible given the current scenario. “If he can’t perform, it will be our loss, not his”, tweeted Vishal.

The present was cancelled after Randhir Roy, the organiser of the concert, stated that Ghulam Ali wouldn’t be coming for the occasion scheduled on October 9. Everyone including my party members listen to Ghulam Ali’s ghazals.

“It’s a familiar nightmare that keeps on recurring in this part of our country…”

Possibly Bollywood’s favourite Pakistani singer.

It is worth remembering that when the BJP government banned the sale of meat during the Jain festival, the Shiv Sena protested against the decision by slaughtering chickens on the streets.

In 2011 Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was arrested on charges of money-laundering. They’re doing all the recordings in Dubai or somewhere else. Do they not have a voice or is the Shiv Sena now that the sole spokesperson for the city of Mumbai? What does that threat mean to you?

Here’s a line-up of acts that the Shiv Sena would love to stop.

The other uncomfortable question raised by the cancellation of Ali’s concert relates to the relationship between music and politics. The state government will make all the arrangements with open arms. I guess it’s been a while since they made it to the front pages. “Our meeting with Uddhav was good”. If the Chief Minister of Maharashtra does not have the courage and the wherewithal to ensure a peaceful concert, how will he ensure safety for the citizens? But we just wanted to calculate the risk factor and hence chose to hold on to it for now. “We can have the concert in Delhi, I am sure it will be well received”, Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra said.