Is India becoming a Hindu Saudi? Taslima Nasreen on Ghulam Ali concert cancellation

Controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen has voiced her support to Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali.

New Delhi: Amid a bitter political row over cancellation of famous Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali's concert in Mumbai, controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen has said that India is fast turning into a 'Hindu Saudi'.

In a series of tweets, Taslima Nasreen – the author of several controversial books – asked political parties to differentiate between a singer and a Jihadi.

The reactions from Nasreen came hours after the organisers cancelled Ghulam Ali's concert, which was scheduled to be held at the Shanmughananda Hall in Mumbai following a threat from Shiv Sena.

Shiv Sena had threatened that it won't allow the concert.

In a letter to the management of the Shanmughananda Hall, Shiv Sena's film wing "Chitrapat Sena" said if it went ahead with the programme featuring the artist from Pakistan they would have to face the "anger of the party and the patriotic people."

Later, reacting to the last minute cancellation of the concert, the singer said, “Atmosphere is not conducive for me to perform," adding that he wanted "the Indo-Pak ties to improve".

He further said that whenever his fans call him with love, he goes and performs.

"Such controversies spoil people's 'sur' (note). I am not angry, I am very hurt. In love, such things don't happen," Ali said.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government today invited the Pakistani singer to perform in the national capital after his concert in Mumbai was cancelled due to Shiv Sena's protests, saying "music has no boundaries".  

The Congress too attacked Shiv Sena and said the party is practising dual standards by opposing the concert of Ghulam Ali as the latter had welcomed Pakistan cricketer Javed Miandad earlier.

"When Javed Miandad had come, then Shiv Sena chief had welcomed him, but when some other artist from Pakistan comes, they behave in a different way. Shiv Sena and BJP have always been doing politics over it, there is nothing new," Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed told ANI.