Chandigarh, September 11: Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh has decided to postpone his show in Houston, US, after the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) warned the actor against performing in the show promoted by a Pakistani national Rehan Siddiqi.
The singer-actor clarified that his contract is only with ‘Shri Balaji Entertainment’, and his “dealings and agreement are only with them and nobody else mentioned in the article or federation letter”.
In a tweet on Wednesday, the actor said: “REGARDING HOUSTON CONCERT ON SEP 21st. I have just Become Aware of a Letter issued by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) to me by an Article Published in the Mumbai Mirror Today, I was Not Aware of Any Such intimation by the Federation Before Today. I would like to state that my Contract is only with ‘Shri Balaji Entertainment’.”
“My Dealings and Agreement is with them only and nobody else that is mentioned in the article or 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. Always.”
Earlier, the FWICE had asked the Dosanjh to not perform in Houston on September 21, as it was being promoted by a Pakistani national.
The cine body told Dosanjh, “To cancel his commitment in the interest, sentiments and dignity of the nation”. In another letter, FWICE requested Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for cancelling Dosanjh and his troupe’s VISA in case he doesn’t cancel his tour.
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 “our 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 condemn 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 comes 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. — With IANS inputs.
