Ghulam Ali a 'dengue artist' from 'terrorist country', says singer Abhijeet

Even as several known personalities from Bollywood, particularly the music industry, has been debating on the issue of a ban of Ali's performance in Mumbai

Singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya, who had shocked Twitterati with his low-brow tweets after a court order in actor Salman Khan’s hit-and-run case, again courted controversy on Friday with a series of tweets in support of a ban on Pakistani Ghazal singer Ghulam Ali’s performance in Mumbai.

The singer, who said “nation and patriotism” took precedence over music, sought to brand the Pakistani Ghazal singer a “dengue artist”.

Even as several known personalities from Bollywood, particularly the music industry, had been debating on the issue of a ban of Ali’s performance in Mumbai, Abhijeet’s comment on the issue stood out as a nasty personal attack.

In his first tweet on the issue, Abhijeet said: “#GhulamGigCancelled Kitni baar bhagaya but these shameless have no self respect no work except terrorism but we feed them along with prestitutes. [sic]”

(How many times we have chased them away. These shameless people have no self-respect or work except terrorism. But we feed them along with presstitutes). 

His target in the current controversy was not Ali alone. He went on to take a dig at Mahesh Bhatt, Hindu political parties and the media, too. Referring to Hindu outfits’ hollow talk, Abhijeet said in a tweet: “... So called Hindu political parties jst shout 4 mileage bt never tk action agnst these Dengu Artists from terrorist country. These qawwals don’t come here on their merit but due to paki Dalals #prestitute and @MaheshNBhatt”. [sic]

While the singer’s remarks shocked many, he was fully backed by the Shiv Sena, which said: “Welcome his statement as he speaks for the nation.”

Among those who expressed their displeasure over a ban on Ghulam Ali’s performance, saying music knew no boundaries, were actor Shabana Azmi, designer Wendell Rodricks and filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s censor board chief hoped the Indian government would handle the issue “responsibly”.

On his part, Ghulam Ali said, “It is very, very sad. I am a little worried. I came to know about it (the cancellation) after I came here. My fans are disheartened more than me; they were waiting for it. But I will keep coming because I love my fans.”