TM Krishna to perform at AAP govt’s event in Delhi tomorrow

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, November 16

Carnatic singer TM Krishna confirmed to reporters here on Friday that he would be participating at a concert in New Delhi on Saturday.

"I will be singing in New Delhi tomorrow. The Delhi government is hosting the concert at the Garden of Five Senses near Saket at 6.30 pm. I invite everyone to come," Krishna told reporters here today.

The singer was to participate at a two-day concert organised by SPIC-MACAY and the Airports Authority of India in New Delhi on November 17 and 18, but the event was cancelled allegedly because Krishna's participation was opposed by some Hindutva elements.

"There are some elements in society who want to scare people. They do not know the meaning of democracy or that India is a country of multiple cultures and religions. No one should be attacked for expressing their opinions," Krishna, who is scheduled to deliver a talk at the Tata Literature Festival here later on Friday, said.

The vocalist, whose renditions of Islamic and Christian hymns in the Carnatic idiom has drawn attacks from the Hindu right-wing elements, has refused to cow down in the face of such threats. "I believe in every art form. Allah, Jesus and Ram make no difference. It is a multi-lingual and multi-religious country,” he was quoted as saying by a television channel.

The singer also accused the authorities of bowing to pressure from extremist elements. He hit out at the Airports Authority of India for cancelling the two-day event after being threatened by right-wing trolls.

Krishna, who is to speak on art and activism later today, said artistes who express dissent against the establishment are being targeted. He added that right-wing trolls are part of organised groups with links to those in government.