Two days after Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan's accusation that Madhya Pradesh cultural department was ignoring him and his family, State culture department today denied the charge saying it was incorrect.
"His charge that his family had been ignored was incorrect, rather he and his family have been honoured immensely with bountiful felicitations," MP culture department Principal Secretary Manoj Shrivastava told PTI today.
"We have huge respect for Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, his father and entire family and hold them in high esteem. But, Ustad Amjad's allegation was untrue and the facts speak otherwise," he said.
On the charge of Sarod maestro that MP government has not paid any tribute to his father, late Ustad Haafiz Ali Khan on his 42nd death anniversary on December 28, Shrivastava said that they don't have any mechanism to pay tribute to all the legendary artists' on their anniversaries.
"Maestro had been conferred upon Tansen Shikhar Samman in 2001 and he had participated in Tansen Sangeet Samaroh in 2004. He was also given honourary D Litt by Raja Man Singh Tomar Music and Arts University, Gwalior, last year. Ustad Amjad Ali Khan has performed at Pt. Krishna Rao Memorial Music Festival in Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal," Shrivastava said.
