New Delhi: Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali, whose concert in Mumbai this week was cancelled following threats from the Shiv Sena, will now regale his Indian fans at a show here in December. The news was confirmed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
“Ghulam Ali Sahib. Hum apke bahut bade fan hain (I’m a huge fan of yours). Abhi apse baat karke bahut acha laga (I felt really good to talk to you). Thanks for agreeing to do a programme in Delhi in December,” Kejriwal posted on his Twitter page on Friday.
Delhi’s ruling AAP on Thursday had invited the noted singer to perform here after he cancelled his Mumbai concert.
The 75-year-old was scheduled to perform in Mumbai and Pune this week as part of the death anniversary tribute to singer Jagjit Singh. But the show in Mumbai was called off on Wednesday after the Shiv Sena threat.
Ghulam Ali made an entry in Indian cinema with his popular song “Chupke chupke raat din” for B.R. Chopra’s “Nikaah”. He has legions of fans across the world, and was “hurt” when his concert in Mumbai had to be cancelled as he shared that he aims at spreading the message of love and peace through his music.
Shiv Sena on Friday turned its ire against governments of east Indian state of West Bengal and national capital of Delhi for inviting the maestro to perform in their respective states.
In a stinging editorial in its mouthpiece “Saamana”, Sena said “those who are keen to watch his performance should be taken to the homes of [Indian] soldiers killed at the borders to know their anguish.”
The governments of West Bengal and Delhi had on Thursday offered to host Ali’s concert, saying music and culture have “no boundaries”.
“These artists only want to come here, perform, earn money and go back to their country,” it said.
Criticising those who have attacked the party for forcing cancellation of Ghulam Ali’s concert here, the Sena said, “Those who say that politics should not be mixed with sports and culture are belittling the patriotic feelings.”
