In row over 'saffron' song, Arijit Singh's concert cancelled in Kolkata, BJP calls its political decision
Kolkata/IBNS: In yet another controversy over a song and saffron colour, singer Arijit Singh's Feb 18 concert in Kolkata's Eco Park has been cancelled triggering off allegations by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that it's a political decision.
The ruling Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal has denied permission citing a G-20 event in the same area.
However, BJP's Amit Malviya said the cancellation happened as Arijit Singh sang ‘Rang de tu mohey gerua', which has a literal translation of ‘Colour me saffron' in front of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the inaugural ceremony of Kolkata International Film Festival. (KIFF).
He has also cited actor Amitabh Bachchan's speech on civil liberties at the same event to target the Trinamool Congress government in Bengal.
"Sr Bachchan was on dot when he spoke about shrinking space for civil liberties and freedom of expression at the Kolkata Film Festival. Arijit Singh who sang “Rang de tu mohe gerua”, with Mamata Banerjee on the dais now finds his show at EcoPark cancelled by HIDCO, a WB Govt body," Malaviya's tweet read.
Sr Bachchan was on dot when he spoke about shrinking space for civil liberties and freedom of expression at the Kolkata Film Festival.
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) December 28, 2022
Arijit Singh who sang “Rang de tu mohe gerua”, with Mamata Banerjee on the dais now finds his show at EcoPark cancelled by HIDCO, a WB Govt body.
The Trinamool has slammed back stating the cancellation of Arijit Singh's concert was a law and order decision and the same is scheduled at Aquatica.
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh also said all these happened before Singh sang the 'Gerua' song at KIFF's inaugural ceremony on Dec 15.
LOP is just pathological lier.
— Kunal Ghosh (@KunalGhoshAgain) December 29, 2022
Arijit sang 'Gerua' on 15/12/22.
His proposed prgrm ( and Salman's also) in Eco Park was cancelled or rescheduled 8 days before, deposit refunded, and Team Arijit booked Aquatica before 15th.
So how can 'Gerua' be factor?
Actually LOP is 'Gira Hua'. https://t.co/1AT71wyORf
According to local media reports, Arijit Singh's team visited Aquatica on Thursday to recce the spot for the singer's upcoming concert.
This comes after the stir over Deepika Padukone's dance number in a “saffron” bikini with Shah Rukh Khan in a song called 'Besharam Rang' from the upcoming movie ‘Pathaan'.
BJP leaders have called for a boycott of the film, alleging that the “holy colour of Hindus” had been “insulted” in the song ‘Besharam Rang'.
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