'Coldplay' singer insulted tricolour, alleges NCP

Mumbai: NCP spokesman Nawab Malik has alleged that lead singer of British rock band 'Coldplay' "disrespected" the Indian flag during the band's concert here.

"There Is a video grab from Coldplay's concert in Mumbai, where the band's lead singer is seen insulting the Indian flag," he alleged.

The former Maharashtra minister sought an unconditional apology from the singer, along with BJP and Shiv Sena leaders who were present at the concert, for allegedly "hurting the sentiments" of Indians.

The video of the alleged incident has gone viral on social media.

The band, lead by its frontman Chris Martin, ended the Global Citizen Festival India concert on a high note last evening by singing "Vande Mataram" with music maestro A R Rahman and also waved the national flag.

The band performed several memorable songs, including "Paradise", "Viva La Vida", "Yellow", "Fix You", for over an hour at the MMRDA grounds.

Several Bollywood celebrities and some international artists also shared the stage.

Among the celebrities present at the gala were Amitabh Bachchan, Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, Katrina Kaif, Sonakshi Sinha, Parineeti Chopra, Monali Thakur, Arijit Singh, Arjun Rampal, Suzanne Khan as well as Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was earlier supposed to attend the event, could not make it. He, however, joined via a video link that was beamed live.

The festival, launched in 2012, partners with Global Poverty Project, a movement aiming to end extreme poverty by 2030.

The event had ran into controversy after NCP criticised the BJP-led state government for providing concessions for the festival, and said that it had been planned by the ruling party to woo voters for next year's BMC polls. PTI VT GK SRY

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