Pakistani ghazal artist Ghulam Ali will be back in Maharashtra next month

MUMBAI: Pakistani ghazal artist Ghulam Ali will be back in Maharashtra next month, providing a fresh headache for the state government.

Ali’s previous show was cancelled following protest of Shiv Sena, the ruling BJP’s partner. Nationalist Congress Party leader Jitendra Awhad has announced that he would hold a Ghulam Ali concert in Thane.

Awhad has invited Ali on February 11 to participate in a four-day Thane Festival. According to Awhad, Ghulam Ali has consented to take part in the festival. The NCP leader’s move is seen as a shrewd attempt to create discord between Sena and BJP, which have not been at the best of terms for the last few years. However, Awhad denied that inviting Ghulam was political.

“BJP-ruled MP is organising a Ghulam Ali concert, West Bengal had seen a concert by him. This has nothing to do with politics. It is a simple art festival and should be treated as such,” Awhad told ET. When asked about the Sena threat, Awhad said, “Ghulam Ali is a soft target, Sena has allowed Pakistani government representatives in Mumbai.”

Last October, organisers of a Ghulam Ali concert in Mumbai had cancelled the event following Sena’s threat. Sena opposes any ties with Pakistan as it claims the neighbour is involved in terrorist activities in India. The cancellation of the concert embarrassed the state government as it coincided with the debate on tolerance.

ET View: If Maha’s Not Keen, Sing In India It is a pity that someone of the calibre of Ghulam Ali has become a political football in Maharashtra. Even if he is allowed to perform in Thane as announced by the NCP despite threats from Shiv Sena, whether Ali will finally sing in Thane has to be absolutely up to the singer's comfort levels. Water seeks its own level, and unless the people of Maharashtra think it fit to make a proverbial song and dance about allowing him to sing in the state, Ali is most welcome to perform elsewhere in India.