Ghulam Ali, who has followers on both sides of the border, says he came to know about the scrapping of the concert which was to mark his close friend Jagjit Singh’s death anniversary.
Unperturbed by the cancellation of his Mumbai concert following Shiv Sena’s objection, Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali says he will keep coming to India for his fans.
The 74-year-old singer, who has followers on both sides of the border, says he came to know about the scrapping of the concert which was to mark his close friend Jagjit Singh’s death anniversary.
Ali is currently in Delhi but plans to catch an early morning flight tomorrow for Pakistan.
“It is very, very sad. I am a little worried also. I came to know about it (the cancellation) after I came here. But more than me, my fans are disheartened as they were waiting for it. But I will keep coming because I love my fans. Future mein bhi ate rahenge. Jab bhi mahaul accha hoga to ayenge. Agar mahaul accha na ho to dil nahi lagta,” Ali told PTI.
When asked about the invites extended to him by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and West Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee to come and perform after the Mumbai fiasco, Ali said he is not in the frame of mind to perform right now.
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“I have some work back home. I was to return soon after the concert but then this happened. So, I want to go home now. Umar bhi ho gayi hain.”
The singer’s son Aamir Ghulam Ali told PTI from Dubai that he could not understand why his father was prevented from performing.
“I don’t understand why this happened. He was not there to pay tribute to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan or any other Pakistani artiste. He was there to pay tribute to Indian legend Jagjit Singh. So, it should not have happened.”
Ali was to perform tomorrow at Mumbai’s Shanmukhananda Hall but the organisers cancelled the show after a meeting with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.
The party had threatened to disrupt the concert, warning that no artiste from Pakistan will be allowed to perform in the city till terror emanating from across the border is stopped.