Arijit Singh's Kolkata Eco Park Concert Gets Cancelled; BJP Leader Asks Why

The BJP leader claimed that Arijit Singh's concert was cancelled because the word ‘gerua (saffron)’ appears in the song's lyrics. 

Arijit Singh's Kolkata Eco Park Concert Gets Cancelled

Source : Twitter

New Delhi: The cancellation of a concert by the renowned singer Arijit Singh in Kolkata's Eco Park has sparked a fresh political spat in West Bengal. The performance was slated for early next year, which is now cancelled. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader claimed on Wednesday that Arijit Singh's concert was cancelled because the word ‘gerua (saffron)’ appears in the song's lyrics. 

According to Dr. Indranil Khan, West Bengal state President of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, the acclaimed singer paid the price for playing the popular song "Rang De Tu Mohe Gerua" at the opening ceremony of the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Notable Bollywood actors such as Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Rani Mukherjee also attended the film festival. 

Dr. Indranil Khan tweeted, “Why has Arijit Singh’s show at Eco Park been cancelled by WB Govt body HIDCO? The result of Arijit humming “Rang de tu mohe Gerua” in front of Her Excellency at KIFF? Intolerance scales new heights.”

Why has Arijit Singh's show at Eco Park been cancelled by WB Govt body HIDCO,?

The result of Arijit humming "Rang de tu mohe Gerua" in front of Her Excellency at KIFF? Intolerance scales new heights.

— Dr.Indranil Khan ডাঃ ইন্দ্রনীল খাঁন (@IndranilKhan) December 28, 2022

Meanwhile, in an interview with the media, Kolkata's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Urban Development, Mayor Firhad Hakim, rebutted BJP's claims. According to Hakim, the Chairman of HIDCO, no official application was submitted to HIDCO by the show's organisers.

He said, "The organisers only informed the local cops verbally. The show takes place during the New Year's celebrations, when a large crowd gathers at Eco Park. Furthermore, the timing will coincide with the G20 summit. As a result, the police have asked the organisers to find another location. There is no political motive behind this."

Although these statements have not been confirmed by the Ecopark itself. The Ecopark administrators have reportedly said that the venue had previously suffered significant damage as a consequence of holding large-scale entertainment events.