The sarod maestro is 'shocked and apalled' by the turn of events.
Keyur Seta
The same day (12 August) when actor Shah Rukh Khan was detained at the Los Angeles Airport by the US Immigration officials yet again, sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan was denied visa to the United Kingdom (UK), where he was scheduled to perform in the coming days.
Going by his tweets, this certainly hasn't gone down well with the veteran musician, who is “shocked & apalled” by the turn of events. Although he hasn’t stated the exact reason for the same, he revealed that he has been performing in the UK since the early 1970s. The maestro also mentioned that it is “extremely sad for artists who are spreading the message of love & peace.”
In all his tweets, Amjad Ali Khan tagged Sushma Swaraj, minister of external affairs, the British High Commission in India, High Commission of India in London and Vikas Swarup, official spokesperson of Ministry of external affairs.
He hasn’t received any response from the aforementioned handles. Swaraj is generally known for responding in such circumstances, but she too hasn’t reverted as of yet.
Shocked & appalled. #UK visa rejected. scheduled to perform at the #RoyalFestivalHall in Sep @HCI_London @MEAIndia @SushmaSwaraj @UKinIndia
— Amjad Ali Khan (@AAKSarod) August 12, 2016
My UK visa rejected. Extremely sad for artists who are spreading the message of love & peace @HCI_London @MEAIndia @UKinIndia @SushmaSwaraj
— Amjad Ali Khan (@AAKSarod) August 12, 2016
Performing almost every year in #UK since the early 70s. Upset to have my visa rejected @HCI_London @MEAIndia @UKinIndia @SushmaSwaraj
— Amjad Ali Khan (@AAKSarod) August 12, 2016
