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Atif Aslam, Shafqat Amanat Ali's concerts cancelled in India

Atif Aslam, Shafqat Amanat Ali's concerts cancelled in India

Pakistani musicians suffer the consequences following the Uri attack in Kashmir
Updated 29 Sep, 2016

Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the attack in Kashmir, Pakistani artistes are now suffering the consequences across the border. Relations between the two countries is in turbulent waters after India's army base in Uri was attacked killing 18 of their soldiers.

Indian Express reported that Pakistani singers Shafqat Amanat Ali, who was set to perform in Bengaluru on September 30th, and Atif Aslam, who had a concert scheduled in Gurgaon on Oct 15th, will not be performing in India as their events have been cancelled.

“We decided to cancel the concert of Pakistani singer Shafqat Amanat Ali. We took this decision in the aftermath of Uri attacks,” Radio Mirchi Group Manager (Sales) Srinivas said.

Although the classical singer was set to perform on Friday, the decision had been passed on much earlier, citing public safety and security concerns. “The concert was cancelled on September 20th, much before the saffron parties raised the issue, demanding cancellation of the event. In fact, Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad raised the issue recently, a few days back,” he said.

The militant Hindu organisation Barjrang Dal and Indian right-wing Hindu nationalist party Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) had been opposing Shafqat's concert since the Uri attack.

“Everyone knows what Pakistan is. Everyday it is killing many (Indian) soldiers. The world is on the verge of declaring Pakistan as a terrorist state. Such being the case, what is the necessity for inviting a Pakistani singer here,” said Bajrang Dal Karnataka unit President Suryanarayan.

Similarly, organisers of Atif Aslam's concert were 'advised' by the Gurgaon administration to 'defer' the concert after member of Hindu group Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Kranti Dal met with Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner and asked him to cancel the event.

The letter handed to the Deputy Commissioner read: “If the event takes place, and any incident happens because of it, the district administration will be responsible”.

“Gurgaon district administration plays with the sentiments of the country by giving Pakistani artists permission to perform here. On the one hand, soldiers are losing their lives at the border because of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, and on the other, the district administration... is inviting them here as guests,” it stated.

Following which the district administration released a statement to the concert officials stating, "Considering the sentiments of armed forces/soldiers at the frontier, the organisers are advised by the district administration, Gurgaon, to defer the Atif Aslam concert.”

In light of the issue the Deputy Commissioner said, "We are just issuing an advisory to the organisers that since sentiments of the armed forces are concerned, they should defer the concert. There are chances of public protest or incidents like shoe-hurling. But if they (organisers) want to go ahead with the concert, we have to provide security, but half-heartedly.”

However, The Hindu reports that the organisers had decided to cancel the event indefinitely after the Uri attack.

Pakistani artistes find themselves in trouble following the friction between the two countries over Kashmir. Some in India have started opposing the work of Pakistani artistes in their country such as nationalist party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) which seeks to eliminate the presence of Pakistani talent in India.

Earlier, Fawad Khan was asked to leave the country in an open letter by an Indian journalist for not showing solidarity to the victims of the Uri attack. However, many from Bollywood have extended their support towards Pakistani artistes working in India, stating that the issue lied with the governments of the two countries, not people in the performing arts.

Comments

Ali Sep 29, 2016 10:14am
It was supposed to happen 1 day, Hope Pakistani artists learn from this and do something for their country instead now
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Sunil Sep 29, 2016 10:28am
Very good !!
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fazal Sep 29, 2016 10:38am
I am not sure why sentiments of the people of Pakistan is not being considered. If our Artists are treated like this then why are we constantly airing Indian dramas, movies and above all using Indian models in our advertisements. Is money more important then patriotism.
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Basit Bugti Sep 29, 2016 10:50am
What else we expect ?
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Khanna Sep 29, 2016 10:57am
Good decision
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zeeshandxb Sep 29, 2016 11:04am
Better to perform in pakistan dubai uk and usa instead of india
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Citizen Sep 29, 2016 11:11am
@zeeshandxb, totally agree. We will try to ensure expat Indians don't attend those too.
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Sridhara Sep 29, 2016 11:22am
How many Indian perform in pakistan ?
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tambi Sep 29, 2016 11:47am
@zeeshandxb what about china hahahaha
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kavita Sep 29, 2016 12:01pm
Good!
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Hail Sep 29, 2016 12:03pm
Won't it been more appropriate and honourable had all these Pakistani artist announced the cancellation of these programs themselves rather than getting kicked out by Indians. One should have some dignity and love / respect for oneself and the country
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krishna R Sep 29, 2016 12:04pm
As an Indian and fan of atif aslam i dont not support this. We should not mix politics with arts and culture and stop people to people contacts. This is sad that these hooligans are allowed to threaten artists, what is the difference between hardliners like Taliban and JeM & JuD and VHP?
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Tahir raouf Sep 29, 2016 12:53pm
Lesson for artist like ghulam ali and all those who want the airing of indian dramas and films.
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Muhammad Sep 29, 2016 12:59pm
No big deal.
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shahed jamil Sep 29, 2016 01:00pm
Great move by India. Indian artists are not allowed to perform in Pakistan. Cannot be a one sided affair
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GS Sep 29, 2016 01:00pm
@fazal Because most of your country men lack self respect.
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Dr.Sadaf Sep 29, 2016 01:07pm
Good, maybe that is the only way they will come back home.
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Ali Sep 29, 2016 01:31pm
Sad day for tolerance, love and accommodation. The war was won by fear and hatred again! The better way forward would have been increasing the intellectual exchange across the border to counter negativity....sad in deed!!!
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Ali Sep 29, 2016 01:33pm
@krishna R ............as a Pakistani would fully agree with your comments.... we have so much in common and we should try to work together to bridge the gaps rather than inflame them and be held hostage to fear and hatred by few hardliners on either side.... Hope sanity prevails!
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Sanjay Sep 30, 2016 11:43am
Me and my family are great fans of Atif Aslam. So much so that till now we considered him Indian as we never bothered to find about his nationality. This is revelation that he is from Pakistan. That only shows how much we are like each other. Would an American would be tell the difference between an Indian and Pakistani if they walk together ? I hope we could just understand each other better while protecting our national interest.
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