Shiv Sena demands cancellation of Ghulam Ali’s concert in Kerala

The Shiv Sena’s Kerala unit warned that its activists would stage a protest march to the venue of the concerts of singer Ghulam Ali, scheduled to be held in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode districts on January 15 and 17 respectively. The 75-year old renowned singer, who is visiting Kerala on the invitation of a socio-cultural organisation ‘Swaralaya’, will also be accorded a public reception in association with the state government here on January 14. Announcing the decision to protest against Ali’s programme, Shiv Sena state executive member P Aji said that it was a time of mourning in the nation and not for celebration in the wake of terror strike at the Pathankot IAF base. 

“We are not against art, but against Pakistan,” he said. “What is the purpose of arranging a concert of a Pakistani singer, especially shortly after terror strike at Pathankot airbase where seven soldiers were killed?,” he asked. The Shiv Sena would observe January 15 and 17 as ‘protest day’ across the state by holding demonstrations at different places, the leader added.  Last year, a programme of Ali was cancelled in Maharashtra following protests by the Shiv Sena.