Ghulam Ali cancels all concerts in India

Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali has scrapped his upcoming shows in India, saying the situation was not conducive for music right now and he doesn’t want to “get involved in any kind of politics”.

“I have cancelled all my future concerts in India, will never come back to India. I will not perform until things settle down. I’m hurt by recent incidents in India. As of now I have decided not to come to India. Indian fans have been very supportive. I’m a singer, I will talk about music, not politics,” the singer told CNN-IBN news channel.

The 74-year-old singer’s son Aamir said his father did not want to perform after what happened in Mumbai where his scheduled concert last month was cancelled after the Shiv Sena threatened to disrupt it.

He, however, said Ali will visit when the atmosphere is right.

“The November 8 concert (in Delhi) is not happening now. After what happened in Mumbai, we don’t want to take any risk. The atmosphere should be right for music. We don’t want to get involved in any kind of politics. So much is happening there, it would not be right for us to come at this time,” Aamir told PTI over phone from Lahore.

The singer was invited to perform in Delhi by the Aam Aadmi Party government after his show could not take place in Mumbai. Besides the November 8 show, another concert was scheduled to take place in the national capital on December 3.

“We are not sure about the December concert too. He has many fans in India but he will visit when the atmosphere is right. While some politicians have extended invites there are others who want to create problem.”