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Journalism of Courage
Ghulam Ali clarifies why his India visit was cancelled
Ghazal singer Ghulam Ali was to perform at Patna and Kolkata on December 6 and 7 respectively, but in the wake of the Mumbai attacks the shows did not happen. Contrary to news reports, Ali says he was not denied a visa nor was he stopped by the Pakistan government from travelling to India. “These are just rumours. I never made those statements,” Ali told The Indian Express.
While his Patna show, coinciding with the Rajgir Mahotsav, was called off by Ali himself, the singer says his Kolkata trip was postponed by the organisers. “Jaise hum Muharram par kahin nahin jaate, waise hi is ghum ke samay mein humne jaana munasif nahin samjha (Just like we don’t travel during Muharram, I did not think it was appropriate to perform at such a sad time as this),” says Ali, whose latest album, Saki Lounge, a remixed compilation of his classics like Hungaama hai kambakhta hai, was to be released in various Indian cities between December 8 and 10. These too have been postponed after the terror strikes. “What has happened is very tragic. I pray ki khuda inko (terrorists) wasie hi na chhode aur inki himmat ko khatam kare.”
He is hoping to visit the country in the last week of December to carry on with his performances and launch his album. “If not, then I will visit India in the second week of January after Muharram,” says Ali.
