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Shiv Sena UP Chief Under House Arrest Ahead Of Ghulam Ali's Concert In Lucknow

Shiv Sena UP Chief Under House Arrest Ahead Of Ghulam Ali's Concert In Lucknow
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA - JANUARY 15: Pakistani Ghazal Maestro Ghulam Ali performs during musical concert at Nishagandhi Auditorium on January 15, 2016 in Thiruvananthapuram, India. The 75-year-old singer is in Kerala as the states guest and the event was organised on behalf of the Kerala government. Two of Ali's scheduled concerts in Mumbai and Pune in October were cancelled following protests from Shiv Sena. (Photo by Vivek Nair/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA - JANUARY 15: Pakistani Ghazal Maestro Ghulam Ali performs during musical concert at Nishagandhi Auditorium on January 15, 2016 in Thiruvananthapuram, India. The 75-year-old singer is in Kerala as the states guest and the event was organised on behalf of the Kerala government. Two of Ali's scheduled concerts in Mumbai and Pune in October were cancelled following protests from Shiv Sena. (Photo by Vivek Nair/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

LUCKNOW -- Ahead of Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali's concert in Lucknow, Shiv Sena's UP Chief Anil Singh has been put under house arrest but the latter has asserted that protests against the singer will be carried out in the city.

"Our soldiers are dying and the UP Government wants to roll a red carpet for Ghulam Ali. On one hand our artists are not being given a visa by Pakistan and on the other hand we are welcoming their artists. That too artists who belong to a terrorist nation, a nation from which we should sever all ties," Singh told ANI.

Accusing the UP Government of 'hurting' the sentiments of the Hindu community, he added that the Shiv Sena will not tolerate this 'betrayal' and will prevent the concert from being performed at any cost.

"Earlier also, I had notified the state government that there was no need for such an event. Why do we need a Pakistani artist in our country right now especially when the situation is so tense already? If you want a Muslim artist then we already have plenty in the nation. They can house arrest me or crucify me but we will continue with our protests," Singh added.

He also claimed that his 'constitutional right' to protest was being denied to him and warned that the state government will face the consequences in the 2017 elections.

Earlier yesterday, Ghulam Ali arrived in Lucknow to perform on the culminating day of the Lucknow Mahotsava.

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