UP Govt must ensure Ghulam Ali's concert is not sabotaged: BJP

Amid the Shiv Sena protests looming over Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali's concert in Lucknow on Sunday, the Bharatiya Janata Party has called upon the state administration to ensure that the event is performed in a peaceful environment and no untoward incident takes place.

"It is the responsibility of the state administration to ensure that such event is performed in a peaceful environment and atmosphere and no such untoward incident takes place. As far as Shiv Sena is concerned, I think they should refrain and restrain from doing such activities," BJP leader Zafar Islam told ANI.

Talking about Shiv Sena's vehement denial of any ties, political or cultural, between India and Pakistan, Islam added that there was nothing wrong in strengthening cultural ties.

"While the political dialogue is on, the cultural activities between the two countries should also take place. Nothing wrong in strengthening cultural ties and no one should not politicize this," he added.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena's UP chief Anil Singh has been put under house arrest ahead of Ghulam Ali's concert. He has, however, asserted that protests against the singer would be carried out in the city.

"Our soldiers are dying and the UP Government wants to roll a red carpet for Ghulam Ali. On one hand our artists are not being given a visa by Pakistan and on the other hand we are welcoming their artists," Singh told ANI.

Ghulam Ali arrived on Saturday to perform on the culminating day of the Lucknow Mahotsava.