Ghulam Ali dismisses reports of giving nod to India concerts

Karachi: Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali has dismissed reports that he had agreed to perform at the concerts in New Delhi or Jaipur in December.

"If someone has given any date(s) that I will perform in India he must have done it by himself. I have made no promise or given any dates for any concert next month in Jaipur," Ali said on Geo News channel last night.

The legendary singer, who had to cancel his concerts in Mumbai and Pune last month after protests by Shiv Sena, had also called off a concert in New Delhi scheduled to happen on November 8.

"At the moment I have no concerts planned in India. I don't think the environment is conducive right now for me to go and perform in India. My heart is not in going to India," the singer said.

"I have got a lot of love in India when I have gone there in the past but I don't think at the moment I want to go there as I don't like to be dragged into politics," he added. Ali, 74, had agreed to perform in Mumbai and Pune on the fourth death anniversary of late Indian Ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh before the Shiv Sena protests scuttled his visit to India.

The Shiv Sena has also threatened it will not allow the Pakistani singer if he is to perform in Jaipur.

"I am a firm believer that by having regular contacts in cricket and culture, relations get better between both countries," Ali said.

"I think the Shiv Sena has acted and spoken according to their background," he added. On the same show, Indian filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt also spoke on the cancellation of Ali's concerts and said he felt ashamed at the treatment meted out to the famed singer.