Kolkata Welcomes Ghulam Ali After Mumbai Snub, Concert in January

Ghulam Ali to perform in Kolkata; Bengal CM sent an invite after the cancellation of Mumbai, Pune concerts.

Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali. (Photo: IANS)

Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali and his son will be performing at a function in Kolkata on 12 January.

The legendary singer, whose concert was cancelled in Mumbai last year, would be performing at an event organised by the West Bengal Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (WBMDFC) at the city’s Park Circus Maidan.

<p>Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was eager to host the legendary singer and accordingly we wrote to Ghulam Ali urging him to perform here. He has confirmed his participation at the event.</p>

<b>Sultan Ahmed, Trinamool Congress MP and WBMDFC Chairman</b>

Allaying fears of any opposition to the event in the wake of the terror attack at the Indian Air Force base in Punjab’s Pathankot, Ahmed said elaborate security arrangements will be made since “several eminent personalities including the chief minister will be present at the event.”

Announcing the event on Twitter, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien said:

After the cancelation of his concert in Mumbai due to threats by the Shiv Sena, Ghulam Ali in November had expressed his disappointment, asserting “never to return to India”.

Mamata Banerjee had offered Kolkata as a venue following the cancellation of the Mumbai concert in October.