MUMBAI: As the BJP is all set to make political capital over the proposed memorial of Dr B R Ambedkar here, its ruling partner in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena, on Wednesday tried to score over by forcing cancellation of a concert by Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali, its old enemy, scheduled on Friday. Observers believe the move may help Sena in its political rejuvenation.
The party’s film wing, Chitrapat Sena’s zonal chief in central Mumbai, Mangesh Satamkar, had threatened to disrupt Ali’s performance at Shanmukhanand Hall in Matunga protesting Pakistan’s active support to terrorism in India. He had threatened that they will have to face the heat if they don’t cancel the concert. Event organiser Randhir Singh met Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday night to convince him to go ahead with the concert though it was in vain.
“Uddavji said he too was a fan of Ghulam Ali but when it comes to Pakistan’s terrorism in India he keeps his personal likes and dislikes aside. I am also a proud Indian. So we have decided to call off the event. For us, national issues are ahead than music,” he said.