Arijit Singh's concert cancelled in India and of course, BJP is dragging Pakistan in it

Celebrated Indian singer, Arijit Singh's concert in Kolkata on February 18 has been cancelled for reasons unknown. Several opinions have been floating online and by Indian politicians as to why the decision was taken.

While Singh has often been rather vocal about lending his support to his Pakistani counterparts during his live gigs, this time around, the Tum Hi Ho crooner never mentioned artists on this side of the border. 

Nonetheless, India's ruling party has politicised the matter and as per NDTV, "BJP started walking on the 'Hindustan-Pakistan' line." Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari pulled up a seven-year-old tweet by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to attack the state government for canceling Singh's concert. 

In October 2015, Mamata tweeted about Ghulam Ali's concert in Kolkata. There she wrote, "music knows no boundaries. Music is the rhythm of the heart. Ghulam Aliji's concert will be held in Kolkata. We will make all the arrangements."  Adhikari wrote with a screenshot of that tweet, "Music has no boundaries when Pakistani Ghulam Ali comes. But the case of Hindustani Arijit Singh is different." 

Amit Malviya, head of BJP's IT cell, gave another argument.  According to him, Singh sang Rang De Tu Mohe Gerua on stage at the Kolkata Film Festival. So his concert has been cancelled.

According to NDTV,  "The Trinamool Congress government of West Bengal has denied permission citing a G-20 event in the same area, but BJP's Amit Malviya said it's because Arijit Singh sang ‘Rang De Tu Mohey Gerua' — literal translation: ‘Colour me saffron' — in front of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at a recent event."

The report further added, "He was apparently alluding to Banerjee disliking his party, the BJP, which pitches saffron as the colour of its ‘Hindu Nationalist' ideology."

However, when why the concert has been cancelled, state minister Firhad Hakim said, "The event marking India's G-20 presidency will take place at the convention hall just opposite Eco Park (venue for Arijit Singh's concert). Several foreign dignitaries are likely to attend that event."

He added, “Huge crowds would have gathered for Arijit Singh's show and it would have been difficult to handle. The police felt that conducting such a big event could result in a law and order problem."

An official statement regarding the matter is yet to be issued by the singer or the organisers. 

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