Delhi, West Bengal invite Ghulam Ali

Mumbai and Pune concerts of the Pakistani singer were called off due to threats from Shiv Sena

File picture shows Pakistani ghazal maestro Ustad Ghulam Ali Khan during a concert in Hyderabad. Photo: Nagarag Gopal

After the organisers in >Mumbai and Pune cancelled Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali’s concert in the wake of threats by the Shiv Sena, he was invited on Thursday by Delhi and West Bengal governments.

According to Randhir Ranjan Roy, business head and founder of the Mumbai-based Panache Media, the decision to cancel the Pune concert was taken on Wednesday itself with the nixing of the Mumbai one that was to be held on Friday at Shanmukhananda Hall.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party-led government in Delhi invited the

ghazal maestro to the Capital to perform. “Sad that #GhulamAli is not being allowed in Mumbai, I invite him to come to Delhi and do the concert. Music has no boundaries. #BanTheBan,” said Delhi Tourism and Culture Minister Kapil Mishra in a tweet.

Within hours, West Bengal followed suit. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that a concert of the Pakistani singer could be held in Kolkata. “Music has no boundaries. Music is the rhythm of the heart. Ghulam Ali Ji concert can be held in Kolkata. We will make all arrangements,” she tweeted.

Meanwhile, the decision to cancel Ghulam Ali’s Pune concert, scheduled for October 10, was taken despite limp protestations and postures of lament by the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government.

Sena leader Aditya Thackeray on Thursday commented that “terror and culture cannot go together.”

Reacting to the development, the singer said: “Atmosphere is not conducive for me to perform.” He wanted India-Pakistan ties to improve. Whenever his fans called him with love, he would go and perform. “Such controversies spoil people’s ‘sur’ (note). I am not angry, I am hurt. In love, such things don’t happen.”