Khan: facing the wrath of the Shiv SainiksMumbai: After months of shouting from rooftops that it would not allow any Pakistani cultural artiste to perform in the city, the Shiv Sena has finally enacted it.Last week, as select invitees were watching Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali Khan perform at the Centaur Hotel, about 100 Shiv Sainiks disrupted the function on the ground that "these concerts should be boycotted because no Indian singer was welcome in Pakistan". Curiously, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's son Udhav and his wife Rashmi were to be the chief guests at the performance but did not turn up.In the past, the Shiv Sena had "banned" the Pakistan cricket team and performers like Nusrat Fateh Ali from the city, but had not appeared keen to implement it as they had many friends in the culture world. This time the party obviously intended to "teach Pakistan a lesson", which has evoked mixed reactions from Mumbai's culture crowd. "The action has harmed India's image abroad and should be condemned," says Urdu poet Kaifi Azmi. However, there are many personalities like filmstar Anupam Kher who are of the opinion that "because of Pakistan's support to Kashmir all Pakistani artistes should be banned".At the Centaur concert, the police, conveniently, arrived late. Will that embolden the Shiv Sainiks to put strictures on more things Pakistan?.preferred-source-banner{ margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom:10px;}Published By: AtMigration Published On: May 11, 1998--- ENDS ---
