Singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh, who was scheduled to perform in the US on September 21, 2019, at a show promoted by Pakistani national Rehan Siddiqi, had been asked by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) to 'cancel his commitment in the interest of sentiments and dignity' of India.
"We have just seen a poster of artiste Mr. Diljit Dosanjh who is giving his performance in a show organised by Mr. Rehan Siddiqi (a Pakistani National). We are writing to him to cancel this commitment of his in the interest of sentiments and dignity of our nation," read an August 31, 2019, release from FWICE. FWICE also wrote a letter to Ministry of External Affairs for cancelling his and his troupe's visa in case he doesn't cancel his tour.
Diljit issued a statement on Wednesday stating that "he was not aware of any such intimation by the federation before today. My contract is only with Shri Balaji Entertainment. My dealings and agreement are with them only and nobody else mentioned in the federation letter." "However, in lieu of the letter by the FWICE I have decided to postpone my Houston show at this time. I love my country and will always stand for the greater interest of the Nation INDIA," he added.
— DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) September 11, 2019
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Meanwhile, FWICE is 'deeply concerned and anguished with our artistes/singers/dancers/anchors and other performers knowingly performing in Pakistan and Pak performers performing in India despite our strict warnings'. According to the release, FWICE has also come to know from 'reliable sources that our performers in general and actor Saif Ali Khan and singer Shreya Ghoshal, in particular, are giving their performances in America at the behest of Mr. Rehan Siddiqi, a Pakistani National, who is also the promoter of the shows'. FWICE has zero-tolerance for such performers and condemns it as 'anti-national and unpatriotic bordering to treason with your own country'. The association has requested all our country's performers not to give priority to monetary considerations and refrain from being a part of any such projects with Pak nationals and Pak performance anywhere in the world.
This statement cames after the association banned singer Mika Singh from working in India, following his recent live performance in Pakistan. The step was taken in August after Mika's performance at an event in Pakistan amid spiralling diplomatic uncertainty between the neighbours after New Delhi abrogated Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Mika later apologised.
(Source: Twitter)
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