Arijit Singh's West Bengal concert NOT cancelled for singing Gerua song - here's the REAL reason

Hours after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that renowned playback singer Arijit Singh's concert in West Bengal was cancelled as he sang the song 'Gerua', Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim has clarified that permission was not granted for it to avoid a clash with a scheduled event to mark India's G-20 Presidency.

Hakim said, "The event marking India's G-20 Presidency will take place at the Convention hall, which is just opposite the Eco Park. Several foreign dignitaries are likely to attend that event."

He said that the police felt that Arijit's concert could create a law-and-order issue.

"Huge crowds would have gathered for Arijit Singh's show and it would have been difficult to handle such volumes of spectators. The police rightly felt that conducting such a big event just opposite the Convention Hall could result in a law-and-order problem," he said.

Salman Khan's event cancelled too

The Mayor further said another event featuring superstar Salman Khan also had to be cancelled.

"Owing to concerns about law-and-order problems, the events of Salman Khan and Arijit Singh had to be cancelled. Also, we didn't receive any application for the programme at Eco Park," he added.

Arijit Singh Gerua controversy

Controversy erupted after Dr Indranil Khan, State President of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, West Bengal, questioned why Arijit's show was cancelled. He tweeted, "Why has Arijit Singh's show at Eco Park been cancelled by WB Govt body HIDCO, The result of Arijit humming 'Rang de tu mohe Gerua' in front of Her Excellency at KIFF? Intolerance scales new heights."

Netizens wondered if Arijit singing 'Gerua' in front of Shah Rukh Khan, who was also present at KIFF 2022, was only a tribute to the star or a hidden jibe, amid the ongoing 'Besharam Rang' controversy.

Pathaan's Besharam Rang Row

For those unversed, Shah Rukh and Deepika Padukone's Pathaan is facing boycott calls for the song Besharam Rang in which the actress can be seen in an orange bikini. It all started after Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra called Deepika's outfit in the song "objectionable" and warned the makers to "correct them" or they will be forced to mull whether to stall the film's release. He also objected to the saffron and green bikinis which Deepika wore in the song.

#BoycottPathaan began trending on Twitter as many people also raised concerns over the 'vulgar visuals' and displeasure over the saffron bikini that the actress is seen donning in the video.