AAI cancels TM Krishna concert, Delhi Govt comes to rescue

After facing massive troll by the right-wing on social media, Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Thursday cancelled the weekend concert of Carnatic singer TM Krishna.

However, the Delhi government expressed wish to host TM Krishna’s show.  According to NDTV report, Arvind Kejriwal’s deputy and culture minister Manish Sisodia is in touch with TM Krishna.

“There were urgent circumstances, that’s why we postponed. We can’t elaborate further than the press note we have issued,” Guruprasad Mohapatra, the aviation body chairman told NDTV.

AAI issued a statement which reads, “We would like to inform that due to some urgent engagements, ‘Dance and Music in the Park’ programme jointly organized by AAI and SPICMACAY, scheduled on 17 and 18 November has been postponed and new dates would be announced shortly. Inconvenience is regretted.”

The Magsaysay Award winner said that he has earlier been accused of being pro-Christian, pro- conversion and an urban Naxal. “The troll army has the underlying patronage of people in power,” alleged classical singer.

TM Krishna quoted by NDTV as saying, “I have been trolled for a long time for my social position, my perspectives on politics in India and my disagreements with the BJP regime…I believe in every art form… Allah, Jesus and Ram make no difference…it is a multi-lingual and multi-religious country.”

Being trolled or attacked by the right wing is not a new thing for TM Krishna, who has in the past been attacked by Hindu group for expressing his views. The latest threat to classical singer TM Krishna shows, artists who speak against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and make an attempt to turn the country into a majoritarian will not be allowed to in the world’s largest democratic country by the right wing.

In August this year, a fringe group in Tamil Nadu had threatened him for singing songs on Allah and Jesus in Carnatic. The controversy started after an audio clip reportedly of his songs was circulated on WhatsApp.

The angry singer had tweeted “considering the vile comments and threats issued on social media regarding Karnatic compositions on Jesus, I announce here that I will be releasing one Karnatic song every month on Allah or Jesus.”

Considering the vile comments and threats issued by many on social media regarding Karnatik compositions on Jesus, I announce here that I will be releasing one karnatik song every month on Jesus or Allah.
T.M. Krishna #art #religion #jesus #allah #communalism #freedom #music

— T M Krishna (@tmkrishna) August 9, 2018

Also read: West Bengal: Singer alleges harassment by policemen at musical programme