Bhopal: Amid protests by the Bajrang Dal against his concert, singer Diljit Dosanjh chose to recite the couplet of Indore’s poet Rahat Indori—’Kisi ke baap kaa Hindustan thodi hai‘—for sending out a bold statement to his detractors.
Bajrang Dal and another Right-wing outfit, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), had run a campaign against the Dil-Luminati event in Indore to protest against the sale of alcohol, alleging that it would trigger rampant drug consumption at the event.
Further, the Bajrang Dal objected to no-separate stands for men and women, claiming that it would lead to the so-called ‘love jihad’, a pet theme of Right-wing outfits which claim that the Muslim men strategically allure and entrap non-Muslim women.
In a fitting response Sunday, Dosanjh read the couplet of the late poet Rahat Indori, who was a denizen of the city and much-loved for his unapologetic, fiery verse. The couplet— ‘Kisi ke baap kaa hindustan thodi hai’ (Hindustan isn’t anyone’s property)—is from his famous ghazal, ‘Agar khilaaf hain hone do’ (If they are against, let them be).
The Punjab actor-singer, meanwhile, spoke about the menace of black marketing of tickets at his concert.
“For a long time, the people in this country have been saying that Diljit’s tickets are sold in black. It’s not my fault tickets are being sold in black. How is it an artist’s fault that a Rs 10 ticket is sold for Rs 100?”
He then went ahead and recited another ghazal: ‘Mere hujre mein nahin aur kahi par rakh do/aasmaan laaye ho le aao zameen par rakh do/ab kahaan dhoondne jaaoge hamaare qaateel aap to qatal ka ilzaam humeen par rakh do.’
For the past few days, the Right-wing outfits had been vocal in their protest about the so-called cultural implications of the singer’s concert.
“Can you assure the people that following the concert our daughters and women in the concert will be able to return safely? The common man also wants to know what are the arrangements made to protect the daughters and women coming to the concert against the influence of love jihadis coming to the concert. It is clear that there will be rampant consumption of drugs in the concert, what are the arrangements to stop it,” Bajrang Dal leader Yash Bachani had alleged.
VHP leader Avinash Kaushal told ThePrint that the outfit had concerns regarding “the sale of alcohol and drugs in the concert in the land of Maa Ahilya Devi”, as well as “love jihad”.
“Then it was through the media that we learned that Diljit Doshanjh was involved in funding the farmers ‘ movement and a supporter of Khalistan. Taking all of these issues into consideration, we protested against the concert, but our prime concern was the sale of alcohol and love jihad in the concert,” he told ThePrint.
Former minister and BJP leader Usha Thakur had lent her support to the outfits. “Any heart or mind involved in anti-national activity coming in the peaceful land like that of Malwa.. no such activity will be tolerated here,” she had told the media.
The sale of alcohol is not as per “our culture” and the demands of the organisations are correct, she added.
The BJP leader further reminded the people at large that the night life in Indore was successfully stopped in Indore.
Like Thakur, BJP MLA Ramesh Mendola had extended his support to the outfits and met the Indore collector raising similar concerns. “The venue is very small while the road leading to it is also narrow. It will create traffic hurdles. The Sikh community came to object black marketing of the tickets, and we have also requested the collector to not allow the sale of alcohol in the concert,” the Indore 2 MLA had said.
The collector had later said that excise rules would be strictly followed at the event.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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Under the guise of liberal ideas, if given free rein, such divisive forces can pose a significant threat to the nation.
It’s a shame that Khalistanis are being allowed to go ahead with their business activities unfettered. Diljit Dosanjh is a well known culprit. Time and again, he has openly spoken out in favour of the Khalistanis. He has championed the cause of Khalistan across the world unabashedly and has also exhorted youngsters in Punjab to join the Khalistan movement.
It’s shameful that Indians, instead of boycotting him and his events, are turning up for his concerts.
No govt can touch him. Today he has more popularity than Modi among urban youngsters. Whoever touches him will loose the next election in urban metro cities.
Diljit Dosanjh has always been open and unapologetic about his dalliance with the Khalistanis.
It’s high time that the Union govt slaps NSA and UAPA against him and a full fledged probe through agencies (CBI, NIA) starts. The pop-rap-guns-drug-terrorism nexus is very deep rooted in Punjab and must be uprooted entirely.