Bereft of any substantive issues, Congress has raised an unnecessary controversy on the award of Padma Shri to Adnan Sami, a naturalised Indian, in the field of music. “It is disgraceful and disgusting that Congress has not even hesitated to politicise art & culture which flows beyond boundaries at the behest of radicalised Islamists who are unhappy of the fact that born out of Pakistani parents he had sought Indian citizenship because he was feeling suffocated in a theocratic society and wanted to breathe freely in a secular nation,” stated Brig Gupta. While many of his fans and majority Indians welcomed the decision of the government to honour the talented musician, who had already been recipient of international awards like Nigar Award, Bolan Academy Award and Graduate Award, Congress and other ‘pseudo liberals’ opposed the same by attacking his lineage and descendancy. A classic example of ‘opposition for the sake of opposition’, rued Brig Gupta.
“The agenda of radical Islamists which Congress is following is to create rift and dissension in the country. On the one hand they espouse the cause of Muslims being neglected, isolated and supressed and while on the other hand they oppose the recognition of the talent of a fellow Muslim just because he is a liberal with secular outlook,” asserted Brig Gupta. Buoyed by the ShaheenBagh protests in Delhi, Congress is toeing the line and singing the tune of radical Islamists for sheer vote bank politics. Incidentally, Naureen, mother of Adnan is an original resident of Jammu & Kashmir state and belonged to Jammu.
Adnan was born in London and educated as well as brought up in London. He began taking lessons in Indian classical music at the tender age of nine from Santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, famous son of the soil. His first album was on the piano accompanied by tabla maestro Zakir Hussain son of legendary UstadAllah Rakha again from Jammu. He has hardly stayed in Pakistan. Most of his video albums including the hit song “Lift KarraDe”have been filmed in India.
He has been staying in India since 2001 and his visa was extended from time to time by the government led by the same Congress party which is now objecting to his lineage. He also wrote a song for the Indian cricket team during the 2003 Cricket World Cup. He is also the youngest recipient of ‘Naushad Music Award for Excellence’ awarded by the Andhra Pradesh Government in 2008. “Congress made no hue and cry when in 2011, during the 350th anniversary of the Taj Mahal, Sami gave a solo concert performance in front of the one of the Seven Wonders of the World Taj Mahal and was bestowed with “Glory of India Award” by then Government of India led by Manmohan Singh,” disclosed Brig Gupta.
Politicising even art & culture shows how desperate and frustrated is the Congress to oppose each and every move of the present Modi led government, accused Brig Gupta.