Rakib Altaf
SRINAGAR: Bollywood actor, Gul Panag, has dispelled rumours that she was going to withdraw from hosting the Zubin Mehta concert at Shalimar Garden in Kashmir.
The concert, to be held on Saturday, has fallen into a controversy after opposition by separatist groups and civil societies in the Himalayan region.
“I’m definitely going. Kashmir is getting marginalised. Events such as these help to draw attention to what is essential – humanity, understanding and peace,” Ms Panag’s PR firm quoted her in a statement to FreePress.
She said the concert, organised mainly by the German Ambassador to India, Michael Steiner, will bring the region into limelight “for something positive”.
Senior separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani has urged Germany to reconsider going ahead saying “any political, cultural or sporting event of international level held in Kashmir had an impact on the disputed identity of the region.”
Civil society groups have also said that Mehta’s concert “Ehsaas-e-Kashmir” (Feelings of Kashmir) was aimed at obfuscating the ground relaties in Kashmir. They have on their part announced hosting a parallel event – “Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir” or the reality of Kashmir.
Moreover, in the middle of all this is the maestro Zubin Mehta himself, who is known to be a darling of Israel, a country that all Muslims see as an enemy.
The authorities in Muslim-majority state may have decided not to allow the parallel event by civil societies. But interestingly the Zubin Mehta concert has drawn flak from many Indians as well.
A “protest” song by Trinamool Congress MP and Bengali singer-songwriter, Kabir Suman has become an instant hit in Kashmir.
The lyrics read: “Dear Zubin Mehta, will your music weep for the martyrs… 70,000 Kashmiris killed…Will your music bring back the thousands disappeared in the shadows of hills…”
But Ms Panag, a former Miss India title winner, said “Music transcends disputes, goes beyond political and ideological boundaries, and encourages hope and goodwill.”
