BENGALURU: Just hours before the Bangaloreans swooned to the performance by DJ David Guetta, city police pulled the rug under the performance by refusing to accord permission for the event citing security concerns. Guetta is in India on a four city tour and is performing in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad as a part of Sunburn Festival. The concerts are being organised to raise funds for a charity cause.
The event was scheduled to begin at 3 PM on Thursday at Embassy International Riding School, next to Stone Hill International School at Tarunhunse Village in Bengaluru. Amal Das, event partner of the concert, Ultraverse said, “We are very disappointed with the way the police have turned down our requisition at the last minute. Seventeen thousand tickets were sold for the Bengaluru concert event through various platforms.
All proceeds from the concert were to be donated to Magic Bus foundation. We had given a requisition letter two days ago and police had asked us to come a day later. But on Wednesday midnight they communicated the message that they cannot give permission for any event.” The organisers took to Facebook and Twitter to inform the people of the cancellation.
The posts said, “Due to the present law and order situation in Bengaluru following the events that happened around New Year's Eve, the authorities have recommended against holding the concert scheduled on Thursday with David Guetta. We as Sunburn tried our very best to make it happen but the authorities understandbly are not prepared to take any chances.
Hence the concert unfortunately stands canceled.” Police sources said, “The event is canceled due to the security concerns in city following to the incidents that cropped up after New Year.” On September 30, following to Uri attack, a scheduled concert of a Pakistani singer, Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan was called off, following opposition from right wing groups.
The concert was to be held at Forum Mall in the city on September 30. In a memorandum submitted by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to Adugodi Police Station, they had urged the authorities to deny permission for the event. In the same month DJ Hardwell performance was also called off following the Cauvery issue protests as IPC Section 144 was imposed in various parts of the city.