The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has banned singer Mika Singh from the Indian film industry for performing at an event in Karachi, Pakistan.
The decision came after his performance in Pakistan for Pervez Musharraf’s relative.
A 30-second video clip tweeted by a Pakistani journalist showed Mika performing at the event, despite India severing all artistic and social ties with Pakistan in the aftermath of the removal of Article 370.
A letter from AICWA President Suresh Shyamlal Gupta stated: “AICWA bans and boycott singer Mika Singh from the Indian film industry for performing at a high profile event at Karachi dated August 8, 2019.”
“AICWA takes a tough stand of immediately boycotting all his association with movie production houses, music companies and online music content providers.”
“When the tension between the countries is at the peak, Mika Singh puts money above the nation’s pride,” the film association said.
The association also sought the intervention of Information and Broadcasting Ministry in the matter.
Mika performed with a 14-member troupe at the pre-wedding ceremony of of a girl who’s father, Adnan Asad, is reportedly a cousin of former Pakistan President, General Pervez Musharraf. Mika and his crew have been given visas for 30 days to perform in three cities – Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.Certain reports allege that Mika charged around USD 150,000 (Rs 1.06 crore) for the performance.
As per a report in DNA, the Mika Singh Night was attended by top officials of Pakistan’s spy agency — including its former chief Ahmad Shuja Pasha, as well as Dawood’s relatives.
Information received by the Indian intelligence agencies reportedly confirmed the presence of these officials at the event.
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More so, orgnisers should not allow him to perform at venues or ask for premium. He is mysogynic and during the infamous Delhi rape case about 5 years ago he was known to still include defamatory lyrics against women. It is true that art and music should be above politics or religion however in this case he took money from people associated with anti-India activities in the heightened tensions climate which is clearly not patriotic