Music launch event of Ghulam Ali in Mumbai cancelled

A music launch event in the city, which Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali was supposed to attend on Friday, was cancelled on Wednesday night, following opposition from the Shiv Sena that had earlier forced the cancellation of his concerts here and in Pune.

"The event was going to happen this Friday at 'The Club' in Andheri but now it is not happening. It has been cancelled," said TV show host-turned-filmmaker Suhaib Ilyasi told. Ilyasi said Ali, 75, has cancelled his visit to Mumbai.

Ali was to have arrived here on Thursday to attend the music launch of 'Ghar Wapsi', a film directed by Ilyasi, the next day. He has sung a patriotic song in the film. Ilyasi said a member of the organising committee had gone to 'The Club' to deposit the money but claimed he was told that "your booking has been cancelled".

"No reason was given. It is unfortunate that this incident is happening. Even Ghulam Ali sahab is aware of this and he is feeling sad about this," Ilyasi said. Ilyasi claimed that the local police and some members of Shiv Sena had threatened the organisers, asking them to cancel the event.

An official at The Club said there was no such booking. "They refused to tell us who booked, or what was the event. Our decorator who was working on the event told us that nobody had booked the venue," he said. "I am hurt, disturbed and feeling very uncomfortable. There are a lot of forces in Mumbai and Maharashtra which do not believe in law and order."