Kashmiri singer's show axed after authorities withhold clearance

SRINAGAR: Kashmiri pop singer Qazi Touqeer ’s much-publicised “Tachar Show” was cancelled after authorities withheld clearance, leaving the 2005 winner of a nationwide music reality show and his crew devastated.

Touqeer said Wednesday he would not blame anyone but called the cancellation a blow to art and culture in Kashmir. “My fellow musicians, including Arav Bhatt from Bhopal, are shaken by what happened. He hasn’t stepped out of his room,” he said. “When it comes to music, art and culture, no one stands by us.”

The concert was originally slated for Sept 14 on the University of Kashmir campus. Authorities shifted it to Sept 17 in the university auditorium. “We re-advertised, informed our fans, and reorganised everything,” Touqeer said. Then came another refusal. The auditorium was withdrawn, with a suggestion to move the event to the university’s Zakura campus.

“We agreed to it. All tickets were sold. My crew came from different parts of the country. I had been promoting the show for two months and hoardings were everywhere in Srinagar. Just a night before the event, I was told authorities didn’t give clearance,” Touqeer said.

University registrar Naseer Iqbal said the institution had asked Touqeer to obtain clearance from the district administration. “The singer had asked for the auditorium, but with nearly 10,000 people expected, the university asked him to shift to Zakura campus, which has more space,” Iqbal said. “The university has nothing to do with the cancellation.”

Officials declined to comment on why clearance was denied, but sources cited potential security concerns due to expected large crowds.

The 40-year-old singer vented frustration at what he sees as a pattern of obstacles. “If crowds are the problem, why are thousands allowed at cricket matches in Pulwama? I don’t understand why there’s always an issue with an artist’s performance. Artists get no respect here,” he said.

He said some groups had opposed the concert earlier, calling it “promotion of immoral activities”. But the protests faded and “it was my desire to do a show at a grand level in Kashmir”, he said. “We had full support from everyone. Still, the show was cancelled.”