Atif Aslam’s music event dropped as Sena opposes

April 22, 2015

Mumbai, Apr 22: A music event by Pakistani singer- actor Atif Aslam, planned in Pune on April 25, has been cancelled amid opposition by Shiv Sena, which has often resisted cultural events featuring artists from the neighbouring country.

Atif AslamThe show by Aslam, who has a sizeable fan following in India, was cancelled after selling over 1,000 tickets, which the organisers said would be refunded to those who bought them.

"We cannot proceed with the show after Shiv Sena opposed it. Late Bal Thackeray has always been an inspiration for us. He used to say that patriotism is above everything else," show organiser Sanjay Sathe told reporters in Pune last evening.

"We belong to the art world. We wanted to do this show. However, the reason for the cancellation is before you," Sathe said.

"Over a thousand tickets for the show have been sold. People will be refunded the amount," he said.

According to Sena sources, a former party MLA had written a letter to police expressing strong reservations about the singer from Pakistan being hosted "at a time when the neighbouring country has been indulging in ceasefire violations."

Mahadev Babar, who was an MLA from Hadapsar, and local Sena leader Kirti Pathak wrote the letter to Pune Police Commissioner saying that "Our border is not safe anymore due to continuous firing from the Pakistani side."

Another Sena leader and former MLA, Chandrakant Mokate, also voiced strong reservations about hosting a singer from Pakistan when there have been ceasefire violations by the country.

"We had told the Police Commissioner that we will not let this concert happen at any cost. The Commissioner took cognisance of our letter and assured that he will not grant permission for the concert," he said.

He said the organisers of the event too were co-operative and accepted the Sena's contention that nobody from Pakistan should be allowed to do a concert in the state.

The Shiv Sena has in the past too opposed performance of Pakistani artists in India over its ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC).

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News Network
July 17,2020

Mumbai, Jul 17: Megastar Amitabh Bachchan who is currently getting treated for coronavirus in Mumbai's Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital on Friday expressed gratitude towards his fans for their prayers for his well being.

Bachchan took to Twitter to thank his fans and also said that he is receiving messages from his concerned fans on all of his social media platforms.

"I receive all your blessings and love and prayers for our well being .. on SMS, on WhatsApp, on insta on Blog .. and all possible social media," he tweeted.

"My gratitude has no bounds .. Hospital protocol is restrictive, I cannot say more .. Love," his tweet further read.

Fans of the superstar have been organising special prayers in different parts of the country for his speedy recovery.

Besides Big B, his son, actor Amitabh Bachchan, daughter-in-law, actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and granddaughter Aaradhya Bachchan also tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week.
His actor wife, however, actor Jaya Bachchan, tested negative for the virus.

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News Network
May 18,2020

Washington, May 18: Joining hands with the European Commission, actor Leonardo DiCaprio launched the Virunga Fund with seed money of USD 2 million to support Africa's Virunga National Park.

Since Virunga has lost a significant amount of revenue due to COVID shutdown post-March, the fund will be used to support the national park and the communities around, reported Variety.

The fund is aimed at disease prevention efforts, protection of mountain gorilla, and other species.

"I had the great honor of meeting and supporting Virunga's courageous team in their fight against illegal oil drilling in 2013," Variety quoted DiCaprio as saying.

"Virunga urgently needs funds to protect the endangered mountain gorilla population, to provide support to the rangers and the families of rangers who have fallen in the line of duty, and to help deliver essential disease prevention efforts. It's critical that we rally together during this time of incredible crisis," he added.

The 'Titanic' actor had earlier produced a Netflix documentary film 'Virunga' which is based on the national park.

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March 21,2020

Mar 21: Singer Sonu Nigam has decided to extend his stay in Dubai as he believes travelling amid the coronavirus outbreak can put people around him at risk.

The singer was in the Himalayas earlier and wanted to come to Mumbai for a concert scheduled for March 6 but it got postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic.

He then decided to head to Dubai to be with his wife and son and has been there since a few weeks.

"I am fortunate that my wife and my son are in Dubai. My son studies here and I keep travelling here a lot, Dubai is like my second base. But my father, sister are alone in India. I wanted to come back to India and be at my father's side but I realised that if I do that, I'll be exposing him to the risk of me carrying this virus, who knows the extent of the danger," Sonu told

The 46-year-old singer said everybody is taking precautions and he wants to ensure that the health of those around him isn't at risk.

"I thought let's not outsmart the virus. I thought it's better for me to stay for a bit (till things go normal). Coming back to India, and then going in quarantine will still be a risk.

"I came to Dubai and I thought I'll be able to go back to India but I didn't know it's going to be such an issue eventually. But we are fine here."

On Friday, singer Kanika Kapoor become the first Bollywood celebrity to test positive for the deadly virus in the country and has said she is under complete quarantine and medical care.

The UP police later booked the singer for negligence and committing acts that are likely to spread disease dangerous to life after she attended at least three gatherings in Lucknow, including a party where political leaders were present.

When asked if his decision of staying back was in anyway related to what happened to Kanika, Sonu said that wasn't the case.

"The last time I was contemplating coming to India was on March 16 night, but thankfully my flight got cancelled. Then from March 17, there was this regulation from the government of India that you have to go on a self quarantine for 14 days, compulsorily. I decided I shouldn't take a chance. Being a potential carrier is the worst thing," he said

In Dubai, the singer said the family is taking extreme precautions.

"We all are being safe, staying indoors, not gathering with many people. Careless people shouldn't be around you at this point, people who are too brash, that 'oh nothing will happen.' I don't allow such people in my vicinity. I'm.very hygiene conscious anyway." said the singer.

Sonu said he will be conducting a live music concert on his social media on Sunday.

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