MUMBAI: India's far right political party Shiv Sena has called for the cancellation of Pakistan's popular ghazal singer Ghulam Ali's concert in Mumbai, according to a report on India's NDTV website.

Ghulam Ali, one of the most popular ghazal singers of Pakistan, was to perform at Mumbai city's Shanmukhanad Hall on Friday while the hardliner party has called for the concert's cancellation saying, "We can't have cultural ties with Pakistan when they kill our soldiers."

Related: Modi a fan of Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali

Earlier in April, the legendary ghazal singer held a concert at the famous Sankat Mochan temple in Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency.

An invitation was sent to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi but he expressed his inability to attend the festival due to his busy schedule.

“I do wish I get the opportunity to attend such a programme in the future where so many well known artistes will be enchanting the audience,” Modi said in a series of tweets on April 7.

“I must share that I have heard Ghulam Ali Sahab in the past that too in person,” Modi said in a tweet.

Read: Atif Aslam's concert in India cancelled after Shiv Sena threat

But later that month, pop artist Atif Aslam had to cancel his concert in Pune after having received threats by Shiv Sena at a time when more than a thousand tickets for his concert had been sold which the organisers had to refund.

Shiv Sena, a hardline outfit founded by the late Bal Thackeray, has in the past threatened Pakistani athletes to deter them from engaging in competitive sports in India.

Also read: Kabaddi: Shiv Sena pressure forces Patna to bench Pakistani players

Thackeray often referred to Indian Muslims as “anti-nationals” and called for Hindu suicide squads to counter what he saw as a rise in ‘Islamic terrorism’.

Opinion

Editorial

Budget presser
Updated 14 Jun, 2026

Budget presser

If the FBR falters, the government will find itself in hot water sooner rather than later.
Muharram precautions
14 Jun, 2026

Muharram precautions

WITH Muharram due to start next week, the authorities have already begun annual exercises to ensure that the ...
Blood bequests
14 Jun, 2026

Blood bequests

WORLD Blood Donor Day offers a moment of “gratitude, advocacy and renewed commitment” for thalassaemia patients...
Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...