Kejriwal Govt reaches out to TM Krishna, assures concert in Delhi

NEW DELHI: The Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi reached out to Carnatic singer TM Krishna on Thursday, saying they would be happy to host a concert for him after the Airport Authority of India abruptly cancelled his show, allegedly after the singer was targeted by right-wing trolls on social media.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who is also the capital's culture minister, reached out to the singer directly to make the offer, hours after it was reported that AAI called off the concert, bowing to pressure from trolls.

Krishna was originally scheduled to perform at "Dance and Music in the Park" festival at Nehru Park, Chanakyapuri that was to be organised jointly by the AAI and cultural body, SPIC-MACAY.

On November 10, AAI had announced that Krishna will be performing at the event in a tweet. Several advertisements were also released in some newspapers of the city. "We are in touch with the singer. We have always supported cultures and respected the artists in Delhi. The government in its own capacity would try to arrange the show if the artists agree," said an official.

Earlier in a statement, the AAI said, "We would like to inform that due to some urgent engagements, 'Dance and Music in the Park' programme jointly organized by AAI and SPICMACAY, scheduled on 17 and 18 November has been postponed and new dates would be announced shortly. Inconvenience is regretted."

TM Krishna said, "I have been trolled for a long time for my social position, my perspectives on politics in India and my disagreements with the BJP regime...I believe in every art form... Allah, Jesus and Ram make no difference...it is a multi-lingual and multi-religious country."

The Magsaysay Award winner said that he has earlier been accused of being pro-Christian, pro-conversion and an urban Naxal. "The troll army has the underlying patronage of people in power," alleged the singer.