India-Canada row: BookMyShow cancels rapper Shubh's tour after alleged support to 'Khalistan'

Shubh is allegedly a Khalistan sympathiser.

The company announced it will do a complete refund within the next seven to ten days.

Making the announcement on X, the platform said: "Singer Shubhneet Singh’s Still Rollin Tour for India stands cancelled."

"To that end, BookMyShow has initiated a complete refund of the ticket amount for all consumers who had purchased tickets for the show," the platform said.

"The refund will be reflected within 7-10 working days in the customer's source account of the original transaction," read the post.

The platform did not mention the reason behind the cancellation.

The platform, earlier in the day, was facing a boycott call on social media for hosting a singer who is allegedly a Khalistani sympathiser.

Who is Shubh?

Based in Canada, Shubh works predominantly in Punjabi music.

Shubh rose to mainstream in 2021 with his single "We Rollin".

His singles have charted on the UK Asian and UK Punjabi charts published by the Official Charts Company, as well as the Official New Zealand Chart.

His single "Baller" charted on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100.

He has a large fan following within the Punjabi diaspora across Canada, United Kingdom, United States, and Australia.

What is the controversy around him?

In March, he posted two stories on his Instagram account showing a map of India, which, however, omitted both Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, sparking a massive outcry, reports Hindustan Times.

India-Canada diplomatic row:

The cancellation of his show occurred at a time when India and Canada are engaged in a diplomatic row after PM Justin Trudeau alleged India's role in the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June this year.

India rejected the claims.

What did Canadian PM Trudeau allege?

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has alleged that there are “credible allegations of a potential link” between Indian government agents and the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey in the British Columbia state of Canada in June.

Soon after Trudeau levelled the allegations against the Indian government in the country's Parliament, Canada’s foreign minister Mélanie Joly announced the expulsion of a “top Indian diplomat” as a consequence.

India's befitting reply

In a measure against Canada's actions, India has sacked a Canadian diplomat and asked him to leave the country within the next five days.

A statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs reads, "The High Commissioner of Canada to India was summoned today and informed about the decision of the Government of India to expel a senior Canadian diplomat based in India. The concerned diplomat has been asked to leave India within the next five days.

"The decision reflects the Government of India’s growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities."

Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar?

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canada-based pro-Khalistan leader, was shot dead in Surrey city, British Columbia province in June.

He had been a leading figure in the Khalistan separatist movement and was closely associated with Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).

Nijjar was also serving as the president of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey.

Nijjar, a member of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was a ‘wanted terrorist’ for his involvement in various acts of violence and subversive activities.