Shiv Sainiks are at it again. Their threats to disrupt Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali’s concert, scheduled to be held in Mumbai on October 9, led to its cancellation on Wednesday.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had snubbed the Sena's threats saying that adequate protection will be provided at the concert. Despite this, the organisers decided to cancel the concert. The event has taken on a political tinge now with the AAP government promptly inviting the singer to perform in Delhi instead.
This isn't the first time the Shiv Sena has opposed a cultural event. Their opposition against Pakistani musicians and cricketers goes back many years. The stance of the party has been that there should be no cultural and sporting relations between India and Pakistan, which, it believes, is involved in terror-related activities on Indian soil.
In the past few years they have caused the cancellation of and issued warnings against several Pakistani artistes.
Here's a line-up of acts that the Shiv Sena has stopped in Mumbai.
Sachal Jazz Ensemble:
The orchestra, which plays jazz standards and Bossa nova, has travelled around the world, playing at some of the most prestigious venues. Their renditions of Jazz favourites on Eastern instruments has made them quite popular. The band's performance in Mumbai at the National Centre for Performing Arts was cancelled in December 2014 owing to threats from "right wing" political parties.
The band was due to play in Mumbai after performing in Delhi.
Atif Aslam:
Possibly Bollywood's favourite Pakistani singer. In April 2015 an Atif Aslam concert due to be held in Pune was cancelled owing to the Shiv Sena. A local MLA said of the cancellation, "Shiv Sena has always been against Pakistan and the motive behind cancelling the event is to show that Pakistan is traitor. The organisers praised our stand and with a big heart scrapped the event." The organisers, who had sold about 1000 tickets, had to refund them.
Mekal Hassan Band:
In February 2014, 40-50 Shiv Sena members disrupted a press conference being held by the Pakistani musician Mekal Hassan at the Mumbai Press Club. Hassan was announcing the formation of an Indo-Pak band. Shiv Sainiks entered the venue with placards saying "Mekal Hassan Go Back" and "Pakistan Murdabaad". They then proceeded to push journalists out of the room, tore the backdrop with the band's logo, and dropped the tripods and cameras.
Abida Parveen and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan:
While these two musicians have not actively been opposed by the Shiv Sena, in 2012, Raj Thackeray threatened to disrupt a television show Sur Kshetra that included Pakistani singer Abida Parveen as one of the judges. The Sena members attacked the office of Colours, the channel hosting the show, which, also featured, besides Parveen, Atif Aslam and eight Pakistani contestants.
In 2011 Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was arrested on charges of money-laundering. Following this the Sena sent out warnings to production houses and event organisers telling them to desist from engaging with Pakistani artistes. The letters threatened to "teach a lesson in our Shiv Sena style," to those who resisted.
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