Right-wing Hindu extremist organisation Shiv Sena's UP chief Anil Singh. PHOTO: ANI
UP unit chief of Shiv Sena, Anil Singh put under house arrest ahead of Ghulam Ali's concert, scheduled to take place in Lucknow tomorrow.
— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2016
Despite being put under house arrest, Shiv Sena’s UP chief Anil Singh insists that protests against the Pakistani artist will be carried out in the city, Indian news agency Asia News International (ANI) said.
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Shiv Sena will continue to protest against this tomorrow and will not let this concert to take place at any cost- Anil Singh
— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2016
"Our soldiers are dying and the UP government wants to roll a red carpet for Ghulam Ali. On one hand, our artists are not being given a visa by Pakistan and on the other hand we are welcoming their artists. That too artists who belong to a terrorist nation, a nation from which we should sever all ties," ANI quoted Singh as saying.
Our jawans are being killed at the borders & UP Govt is setting stage for Ghulam Ali's concert here- Anil Singh, UP unit chief of Shiv Sena
— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2016
Describing the concert as an attempt of the UP government to curb his party’s voice, the Sena leader upheld that his party “will not let this concert to take place at any cost.”
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It is an attempt by them (UP Govt) to curb our voice- Anil Singh, UP unit chief of Shiv Sena on his house arrest. pic.twitter.com/5xC7SqRl7l
— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2016
"Earlier also, I had notified the state government that there was no need for such an event. Why do we need a Pakistani artist in our country right now especially when the situation is so tense already? If you want a Muslim artist then we already have plenty in the nation. They can house arrest me or crucify me but we will continue with our protests," Singh said.
Further, the leader of the extremist outfit claimed that his constitutional right to protest was being denied and warned the UP government of serious consequences in the upcoming 2017 elections.
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Ghulam Ali is currently in Lucknow, where he is scheduled to perform at a concert and his performance will mark the concluding day of the Lucknow Mahotsav, an annual celebration of art and culture of the Awadh region, organised by the Uttar Pradesh government.
The Sena has maintained opposition to the performance of Pakistani artists in India and in October 2015 forced the cancellation of Ghulam Ali’s programmes in Mumbai and Pune. A few days later, Ali was invited to perform in Lucknow by UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who felicitated him at his residence.
This article originally appeared on The Hindu.
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