Shiv Sena youth wing chief Aditya Thackeray, on Thursday defended the Sena protest against the holding of a concert of Pakistan vocalist Ustad Ghulam Ali when soldiers of India are falling victims to firing from across the border, saying cultural ties and terror can't be mingled.
“We have encounters going on everywhere, so many ceasefire violations. When this is happening we can’t be having fun here. We all enjoy Ghulam Ali's songs. But we need some sensitivity towards our soldiers. Cultural ties and terror can't go hand in hand," Thackeray told the media.
Ghulam Ali's concert in Mumbai was cancelled on Wednesday after the Sena threatened to disrupt it, warning that no artiste from that country will be allowed to perform in the city till terror emanating from across the border is stopped.
"Ghulam Ali's programme has been cancelled. Neither Ghulam Ali nor any Pakistani artiste will be performing at the October 9 event," organiser Randhir Roy told reporters outside the Matoshree on Wednesday.
Reacting to the development, Ali said the concert was not cancelled from his end. "Atmosphere is not conducive for me to perform," he said, adding, he wants Indo-Pak ties to improve.
He further said that whenever his fans call him with love, he goes and performs.
"Such controversies spoil people's 'sur' (note). I am not angry, I am hurt. In love, such things don't happen."
Describing Jagjit Singh as his "good brother", Ali said wherever they met and performed, "we were one".
Meanwhile, the Arvind Kejriwal government on Thursday invited Ghulam Ali to perform in the national capital, saying "music has no boundaries".
