MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena on Thursday came under fire for its selective protests against Pakistani artistes, a day after it forced the cancellation of ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali’s concert. It has now come to light that Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray had on September 20 addressed a TV audience from a private entertainment channel’s platform after Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s performance.
Shiv Sena has also not protested against other Pakistani artistes in the city such as singer Atif Aslam, comedian Ali Jaffar and actor-cum-singer Fahad Khan. Sanad Mane, a Marathi film producer, said the Sena was biased against Ghulam Ali. “I welcome their stand that Pakistani artistes should not be entertained in the city. But why the selective protest? They don’t utter a word against other Pakistani artistes in the city though their film union has a strong presence in Film City,” he said.
Aditya was not available for comment. However, a Shiv Sena leader, Kishori Pednekar, said the party will protest against each and every Pakistani artiste or cricketer in the city till that country stops sponsoring terrorism in India.
City Congress president Sanjay Nirupam, meanwhile, alleged that the BJP government in the state had become powerless before the Shiv Sena.
After the singer’s concert was cancelled in Mumbai, the governments of West Bengal and Delhi on Thursday offered to host Ali, saying music and culture had “no boundaries”.
“Ghulam Ali concert can be held in Kolkata,” West Bengal Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee tweeted. We will make all the arrangements (for the concert),” she said.
Delhi Culture Minister Kapil Mishra too tweeted, “Sad that Ghulam Ali is not being allowed in Mumbai, I invite him to come to Delhi and hold the concert.”