TM Krishna Music Concert Cancelled by Airports Authority of India After Twitter Trolls Term Him Anti-National

Thodur Madabusi Krishna popularly known as TM Krishna, a Carnatic music vocalist's concert has been cancelled after Twitter trolls termed him anti-national. Krishna's concert was organised jointly by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the cultural body, SPIC-MACAY. It was to be part of a two-day "Dance and Music in the Park" festival at Nehru Park, Chanakyapuri in New Delhi. However, later AAI informed SPIC-MACAY that the event was cancelled. Dancers Sonal Mansingh and Priyadarsini Govind, and sitarist Shahid Parvez Khan were also to perform at the event.

Last week, The Airport Authority had shared details of the concert and details about performing artists on their Twitter handle which received a lot of criticisms. AAI also tweeted about Krishna's performance and ads event also appeared in newspapers. According to The Indian Express, the email by sent by AAI to  SPIC MACAY reads, "Because of some exigencies of work, we are not in a position to go ahead with the dance & music concert jointly organised with SPIC MACAY on 17th and 18th November, 2018 at Nehru Park, New Delhi. Hence, we request you to kindly postpone to a new date and inform all concerned. The new date will be discussed with SPIC-MACAY soon."

Here is AAI's tweet:

Twitter trolls termed him anti-national and also questioned AAI's decision to invite a "controversial" singer. However, Krishna replied to the development saying, "Give me a stage anywhere in Delhi on November 17, I will come and sing. We just can’t let ourselves be cowed down by this kind of threats."

As news of the event's cancellation spread, AAI Chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra said that the event has only been postponed and not cancelled. The Indian Express quoted Mohapatra as saying, "We have some issues. Some exigency has come up and we are not free that day. Whatever note we have given in the media, that is all, there is nothing more I want to say on this."

According to the report, Krishna said SPIC-MACAY on Tuesday informed him that AAI told the organisation that the concert will be held under tight security. However, AAI later clarified that the concert was postponed and the new dates would be announced shortly. Krishna has in the past also been targeted for singing Chrisitan and Muslims hymns in Carnatic music concerts. The 42-year-old who is considered among the finest Carnatic musicians in the country is a Magsaysay award winner and has authored the book 'A Southern Music: The Karnatik Story'.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 15, 2018 11:06 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).