The permitted timing will apparently keep the German Ambassador, Michael Steiner, occupied with his own function at Shalimar Garden.
SRINAGAR: The authorities in Kashmir have decided to allow a parallel event against Zubin Mehta’s concert organised by civil society groups.
“We have decided to allow the event,” said Divisional Commissioner, Shailendra Kumar.
However the authorities have made it clear that no untoward incident or breach of law and order will be tolerated.
They have also dispelled rumours about imposition of a curfew. “There will be no curfew as of now,” Inspector General of Police, Abdul Gani Mir told FreePress.
The Zubin Mehta show titled “Ehsaas e Kashmir” (Feelings of Kashmir) has been organised by the German Embassy in collaboration with the central and J&K governments.
The civil society groups have said that it is aimed at obfuscating the ground realities of the valley while their event titled “Haqeeqat e Kashmir” will project the ‘Haqeeqat’ or real picture.
“There will be a huge presence of foreign media and this is the best way to show them the true picture in Kashmir,” Khurram Parvez, Convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies said.
The permitted time for the event is from 1630 hrs (04:30 pm), just thirty minutes before when the Zubin show starts tomorrow.
Sources say this has been apparently done to keep the German Ambassador, Michael Steiner, occupied with his own function at Shalimar Garden. He had reportedly said that he will also participate in the parallel concert at Municipal park, 10 kms away from there.
Senior separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has called for a shutdown against the concert.
For More, Read: Forget Zubin Mehta, Kashmir Will Host Its Own Music Show
