New Delhi: Famous Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali, turned away by the Shiv Sena in Mumbai, will sing in the national capital in December, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced this morning.
Mr Kejriwal tweeted that he is a "big fan" of the singer and had talked to him.
Ghulam Ali, who leaves Delhi for Lahore in Pakistan today, has also accepted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's invitation to sing in Kolkata, though no date for that performance has been announced yet.
Ms Banerjee had tweeted on Thursday, "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."
Soon after, Derek O'Brien of her Trinamool Congress said Ghulam Ali had thanked Ms Banerjee and "looks forward to performing in Kolkata sometime in the future."
The singer's performance in Mumbai, a tribute for Indian singer Jagjit Singh, was cancelled because the Shiv Sena said it would support no cultural ties with Pakistan till terror attacks from across the border stop. A concert in Pune has also been cancelled.
Politicians of different parties - including the BJP which governs Maharashtra in partnership with the Sena - have slammed the boycott of the popular singer.
"I am also a fan of Ghulam Ali. I listen to music daily...Opposing Pakistan is right but not Ghulam Ali. This is not proper and we should think it over," said Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who is a prominent BJP leader from Maharashtra.
The Ghulam Ali performance in Mumbai was cancelled despite Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis saying, "The Maharashtra government is ready to give full protection to the singer. It is wrong to involve Ghulam Ali in Indo-Pak politics."
"We cannot sit and enjoy music in Mumbai while soldiers are being martyred in Kashmir. There has to be some sort of boycott," Shiv Sena leader Aditya Thackeray said on Thursday.
Ghulam Ali, 74, has said, "I'm not angry but very hurt. I have always got love in India."
Mr Kejriwal tweeted that he is a "big fan" of the singer and had talked to him.
Ghulam Ali, who leaves Delhi for Lahore in Pakistan today, has also accepted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's invitation to sing in Kolkata, though no date for that performance has been announced yet.
Soon after, Derek O'Brien of her Trinamool Congress said Ghulam Ali had thanked Ms Banerjee and "looks forward to performing in Kolkata sometime in the future."
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Politicians of different parties - including the BJP which governs Maharashtra in partnership with the Sena - have slammed the boycott of the popular singer.
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The Ghulam Ali performance in Mumbai was cancelled despite Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis saying, "The Maharashtra government is ready to give full protection to the singer. It is wrong to involve Ghulam Ali in Indo-Pak politics."
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Ghulam Ali, 74, has said, "I'm not angry but very hurt. I have always got love in India."
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