File photo of Shiv Sena workers. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Shortly after the programme to launch the first joint India-Pakistan band comprising musicians from the two countries started, a large group of Shiv Sena activists barged inside the club carrying party flags.
They raised slogans against Pakistan, the visiting artistes and waved banners with "Pakistan Murdabad" printed on them, thereby disrupting the media briefing even as a large posse of policemen attempted to control them.
The stunned artistes, comprising visiting members of the Mekaal Hasan Band and the organisers, were pushed into a corner. No one was injured and there was no damage to property, a club office-bearer said.
Police rounded up several Shiv Sainiks and detained them for creating the ruckus.
Justifying the action, Shiv Sena spokesperson Rahul Narvekar said it was the party's policy not to allow any Pakistani artiste to perform in Mumbai.
"They behead our soldiers on the border, indulge in terror activities and then come here to make money. We shall not tolerate this," he said.
Gurbir Singh, president of the Press Club Mumbai, said he has spoken to state Home Minister R.R. Patil and top police officers seeking additional forces at the venue.
Two Pakistani artistes - guitarist Mekaal Hasan, flautist Muhammad Ahsan Papu - and three Indians - drummer Gino Banks, bass player Sheldon D'Silva and vocalist Sharmishtha Chatterjee - were present at the media briefing.
"This is the first initiative of its kind and aims to create a positive interaction between musicians of both India and Pakistan, create a relationship of mutual benefit, trust and thereby strengthen peaceful ties between the two countries," said organiser Jatin Desai.
COMMENTS (78)
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It is an unbelievable state to see such people in higher authority which not only disturb mutual relatio but such a thing which does not have any threat to the people. Sina is truly extremist but I am surprised to notice that why Govt.does not on such allegation.
26/11 - what a joke....:) Seriously these Indians live in a Utopia World - too much Bollywood to absorb :-)
@ Devika Mittal.
Who is this Aaghaz-e-Dosti to protect Pakistani band and claim that they speak for India when they say the people of India welcomes and loves Pakistani bands and artists?
I am Indian and accord significantly greater recognition to the Shiv Sena rather than an unheard of outfit called Aaghaz-e-Dosti. I do not welcome Pakistani bands and artists to India. Further I do not love Pakistani bands and artists.
@Logic - hahaha……thats it :)
@Jag Nathan:
Exactly like US is a bigger power and they have every right to strip and cavity search your female diplomats .......... Poor Indians tch tch
Now the Indians will defend this as well.....
Yes This incident gives lot to cheer for Pak.
SS has right to stage a peaceful protest. This cannot be classified as the mentality of the entire nation. Legal action was taken against them, that is the state policy. India like most developing nations have issues to deal with, which we own and solve it. At least we are not in denial mode.Yes India is a secular state. Large no of muslims live in peace in India as compared to Pak. Just try to introspect, why no one wants to come to pak, why no cricket is played in your country.
@Ahsan Pirzada: A cool head on a hot page
@Saqib: Shove you peace efforts and goodwill where the Sun does not shine. You know where. We are a bigger power and you live in our shadow. Plain and simple.
@Omar khurshid: You are so right. This is all Drama from GEO. They know there is no notion of "aman" in Pakistan. A country born out of violence can not be peaceful with any one.Not even with itself. So India has to play its part in this "aman" drama as long as it goes to contain "non state actors" who by the way play a major role from Pakistan side. Other than that, I don't think India and Indians have any interest in Pakistan. A majority of Indians would be more than happy to have something like great wall of China between India and Pakistan. India can't even have business relations with Pakistan without having head ache of drug smuggling and counterfiet currency coming from Pakstan. So all Indian should say is "Thanks but no thanks". Keep your lot at home, we have enough.
Hand over the culprits of Mumbai attacks and this will not happen. The ball is in your court.
@Neo:Right. Shiv Sena is a small group of trouble makers.It can be ignored
@RAW is WAR: Sufi music is liked all over the world
@Indian: Than you. I know it is not your govt. policy.
Parliament attacks and the Mumbai 26/11 was an an inside job to make the POTA and UAPA laws. India had a long history of false flag operations, creating foul play with deceit and duplicity. But since Indian media when it comes to Pakistan and Kashmir is state controlled(need the NOC from gov., military) to reports any Kashmir/Pakistan related news, Indians gullible and nonsensical comments are there to be read. Need to open up the mind and shut the mouth up. Read some independent international media apart from Indian media.
@RAW is WAR:
Yup, Sufi Music means peace, something Indians know nothing about.
@Hafiz: You seems to be one of the Shiv Sena howlers. As for the Mumbai 26/11, two wrongs doesn't makes one right.
If this had happened in Pakistan, all the Indian trolls would be teaching Pakistan the lessons on toleration. But since it happened in India so now Indians are defending their extremists thats the real face of India. Why do you ask Pakistan to hand over extremest people if you cant control the extremist on your end, even defend them. And I really wonder who from Pakistan wants to visit "Hindustan"
@Hatter "This act and rapes are the real faces of shining India."
Terrorism and Polio are the real face of the Land of Pure...
just another ordinary day,,,,,,,not at all suprisin,,,,no Pak players in IPL,shev sina,......restless LOC........lol......kinda used to it now
As of folks asking questions on India secularism, Hating Pakistani is not the sign of non-secularism. We don't hate Muslims. We hate pakistan. So we are bringing Modi to power and removing this corrupt and weak congress. And why you guys are always like Please let us play in IPL, Please let us act in bollywood, Please let us sing etc. Don't you have any self respect? As a pakistani, you should work to promote your lollywood and develop your economy. You government is corrupt like us, you should change it like we are doing. And Tribune is not an Pakistani brand. It's a UK paper so please don't preach us. You guys spew venom at Time of India 10000x time than this.
It was against Paki artists not Islamic artists, see the difference but I don't expect you guys to understand it. People from Iran, Turkey etc are welcome to perform in India but not Pakis until you punish the culprits of Mumbai attacks.
@N.sid: stupid they have not object indian muslims band. grow up man grow up.
“They behead our soldiers on the border, indulge in terror activities and then come here to make money. We shall not tolerate this,” no news of Indian fisherman killed in Karachi jail
@Stranger: don't you feel shame for 26/11????
@naeemhussain: real face of pakistan is 26/11??? did you forget that????
@Ali tanoli: was AJMAL KASAB secular??? who did 26/11?? is not it pakistan.
@Stellar: why madrassa man??? don't mess up country with community. nonsense public.
Dear friends, I think it's time that we all grow up. I'm a proud Pakistani but I know for a fact that there are people in our society that would do the same or probably worse than what these people did. Don't get me wrong, by no means am i trying to legitimize their action. My humble request is that we should probably end this confrontational policy and the blame game we have been playing since the creation of our nation. You only have the right to be respected if you give respect. it's time that we set aside these petty issues. Both of us!
My dear friend, I think it's time that we all grow up. I'm a proud Pakistani but I know for a fact that we there are people in our society that would do the same or probably worse than what these people did. Don't get me wrong, by no means am i trying to legitimize their action. My humble request is that we should probably end this confrontational policy and the blame game that we have been playing since the creation of our nation. You only have the right to be respected if you give respect. it's time that we set aside these petty issues. Both of us! @naeemhussain:
Notwithstanding the inability of Pakistani artistes to grasp the message that they are not welcome in India resulted in the use of forceful methods that can be faulted, the Shiv Sen’s sentiment is faultless.
Dear Pakistanis, What's wrong with you, 8 innocent people died in Peshawer in a suicide blast and only 4 comments so far as opposed to 29 comments for this news about a group of losers protesting against a nondescript Pak band (at least for Indians). Well, that explains why are you in such state of affairs! Sincerely wish you good sense and luck, Peace.
This exposes the folly of making peace without solving bitter outstanding disputes such as Kashmir. Only and only when these disputes are solved through mature and level headed leadership in both countries would there be tangible and long lasting peace between the two countries.
I condemn all acts of violence no matter where they are and whatever the excuse may be. There are more peaceful ways and means of protesting in today’s civilized world. Like Pakistan and Afghanistan there are rightwing extremists in democratic India as well, albeit with much less public support. All rightwing extremists want is to increase hatred and take out the cultural and social values and keep the old status quo intact. By taking these extremists seriously and reacting to them would make their work easy and they would succeed in achieving their goal to keep the wall up and no attempt to build bridges.
@Logic: LOL, you've nailed it.
@naeemhussain: don't care. pakis deserve more than this. no one can forget Mumbai attack.
@ali tanoli what has secularism got to do with this. BTW who are u to teach us secularism. the land of the pure has blood stains of Hindus and shias on it. so think for your country and don't lecture US on secularism.
Good job by shiv sena we should ban all Indian movie in Pakistan
@A2Z: It's not true that ET is partial to Indians. My following post for instance was denied:-Shiv Sena fellows are the biggest frauds of India & quite purchasable. Had they got some bribe-money from organisers the chaps would have been noisy without being noisome.
@naeemhussain: Well to show the real face of Pakistan, Shiv Sena had to do it. Don't expect goodies goodies until Mumbai Massacre culprits are punished.
Truth is they deserved it.I bet they will still be going to India for money.Why should we condemn this attack when our singers have no sense of nationalism?Money is their priority so let them face the music.
they have write to protest.....same thing doing pakistanis for kasmir
Shame on SS.
Thank you Shiv sena. Pakistani people should not be allowed to make money from India. They should play their band in pakistan and ask Hafiz saeed to dance with them.
India should be declared a Hindu state...which in reality is true. Why hide behind the secularism which is a fiasco and sham.
This is not the first incidence...won't be the last. Whining India. Where is the so called secularism gone.
Indian sham secularism at its best....Declare India a Hindu(fanatic) state.
@INR: Why do you people come to Pakistani newspapers and read/comment on every news item when you dont like us? Do you seriously have nothing better to do?
Its Bad SHIV SENA !!!! I being an Indian not support this... they should write article or convenience peoples but in peaceful way.
This act and rapes are the real faces of shining India.
The True face of India. Shame Shame.
as an India, I am extremely proud of Shiv Sena,. Sufi music is not welcome in India.
How this happened, (according to Indian trolls) India is the most tolerant country on earth ???????
If Pakistani hate India then why do go there for money ? Well done shiv sena.
Yea the real face of Inida, peace will never be an option between Pak and India, because these Indians will never lose this type of mentality.
Don't take Shivsena seriously. Bunch of losers they are.
Secular indianos????? or elephant teeth...
good job shiv sena
They should actually be protesting outside the New Zealand embassy.
@INR: Why is that enormous number of right wing extremist indians troll on Pakistani sites. If you hate us so much, Why don't you just stay away from our space?
This is vibrant, democratic India
Now Indians will defend this by putting some strange logic. Lets start Indians, you know very well ET would publish your comments against Pakistan so write whatever you want.
@Omar Khurshid, and for ET as well.
The real face of India.
shame on you shiv sena and team. Indian government must take an action against the culprits
Respect for Shiv Sena increased 10 folds.
Real Aman Ki Asha!! An eye opener for GEO!!