Consumer electronics brand "boAt" (legal name being Imagine Marketing Services Pvt Ltd) - the India-based online outfit that offers multi-category consumer electronics products - has withdrawn support to a series of shows that Canadian singer Shubh of Indian origin was to conduct in India. The reason for the cancellation is the revelation that the singer has been supporting the Khalistani separatists and terror in his several posts online.
In a post on platform X (earlier known as Twitter), boAt wrote:
"At boAt, while our commitment to the incredible music community runs deep, we are first & foremost a true Indian brand. Therefore, when we became aware of the remarks made by artist Shubh earlier this year, we chose to withdraw our sponsorship from the tour. We will continue to foster a vibrant music culture in India and create platforms where emerging artists can show their talent."
Shubh has posted several posters with a distorted and mutilated map of India showing it without the Jammu-Kashmir and Punjab section along with graffiti that read "Save Punjab" and "Pray For Punjab".
Shubh had a long itinerary planned for his shows on the India tour from September through November.
Shubh's shows are slated to be held in 2023 at the following venues.23rd September - Bengaluru
30th September - Gurgaon
1st October - Hyderabad
6th October - Chandigarh
7th October - Ludhiana
8th October - Ahmedabad
13th October - Jaipur
3rd November - Mumbai
4th November - Kolkata
5th November - Pune
A BJP Yuva Morcha leader Tejinder Singh Tiwana had also written to the Mumbai Police about Shubh's anti-India activities and sought the cancellation of his shows.
There has been a huge uproar on the internet over the lack of word or cancellation alert from BookMyShow.com who are managing the sales of the tickets on their portal.
Bookmyshow has not put out any official word.
The issue of Khalistani separatists harboured by Canada picked up a storm recently when - on alleged involvement of killing a Sikh leader, Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat on Monday. The Canadian foreign minister Mélanie Joly alleged that the top diplomat had credible link to the murder of a prominent Canadian Sikh leader (of the Khalistan Tiger Force) Hardeep Singh Nijjar - against whom India had put out an Interpol Lookout notice. Denying any such links, and in retaliation, the Indian government has ordered a senior Canadian diplomat to leave the country in the next 5 days.
(With inputs from agencies)