AICWA Calls for Ban on Mika Singh Over Performance in Pakistan

The singer performed on 8 August, shortly after the Indian government’s decision to abrogate Article 370.

Singer Mika Singh.

(Photo: IANS)

The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has banned singer Mika Singh from the Indian film industry for performing at the wedding of the daughter of a billionaire who is said to be close to the country’s former president General Pervez Musharraf.

AICWA President Suresh Shyamlal Gupta issued a letter that reads:

“AICWA bans and boycott singer Mika Singh from the Indian film industry for performing at a high profile event at Karachi dated 8 August, 2019. AICWA takes a tough stand of immediately boycotting all his association with movie production houses, music companies and online music content providers.”

Suresh Shyamlal Gupta, President, AICWA

The statement also threatened anyone who works with Mika Singh with legal consequences. It said,

“AICWA workers will make sure that no one in India works with Mika Singh and if anyone does, they will face legal consequences in the court of law. When the tension between the countries is at the peak, Mika Singh puts money above the nation’s pride,”

AICWA

The association also sought the intervention of Information and Broadcasting Ministry in the matter.

Mika Singh Earns Ire For Pakistan Gig Post Abrogation of Article 370

According to reports, the performance took place on 8 August, a few days after the Indian government announced its decision to revoke Article 370 of the constitution – which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir – and sparked rising hostilities between the two countries. Daily Jang has claimed the groom was a big fan of Mika and his in-laws used their connections to procure high-level security clearance and visas for the singer and his band.

In retaliation to the abrogation of Article 370 on 5 August, the Pakistani government has downgraded diplomatic relations with India, approached the UN, China and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and suspended bilateral trade with New Delhi. It has also banned all cultural exchanges with India, including all kinds of joint ventures between the entertainment industries of the two countries.

According to an online portal, filmmaker Ashoke Pandit has slammed Mika’s decision to perform in Pakistan at such a delicate time. He has said that film federations and producers’ associations will meet on 12 August to determine whether his actions warrant a ban from “all professional activity in India”.

Opposition leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party Syed Khursheed Shah said the government must find out who gave the security clearance and visas to the Indian singer and his 14-member troupe to visit Pakistan at a time when the country had suspended diplomatic and trade relations with India, reports PTI. "This is a time when there is a ban on Indian films, dramas, shows, and Pakistan has made its views clear to the Indian government. Even if visas were issued early on they should have been cancelled," Shah said.

(With inputs from PTI, IANS)