Electronics brand boAt on Tuesday said it has decided to withdraw sponsorship of Canada-based Punjabi singer Shubneet Singh’s upcoming India concert. The decision was taken in light of the singer’s alleged support for Khalistan. Earlier this year, he posted a distorted map of India excluding Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab on her Instagram account, sparking outrage.
boAt tweeted on X(former Twitter), “At boAt, while our commitment to the incredible music community runs deep, we are first & foremost a true Indian brand. Therefore, when we became aware of the remarks made by artist Shubh earlier this year, we chose to withdraw our sponsorship from the tour”.
“We will continue to develop a vibrant music culture in India and create platforms where emerging artists can showcase their talent,” the company added.
Notably, Mr. Singh, known by his stage name Shubh, is scheduled to perform in Mumbai on September 23-25 as part of the Cruise Control 4.0 event organized aboard the Cordelia Cruise, according to PTI. He will also perform in cities like New Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
Cricketer Virat Kohli also recently unfollowed Shubh on social media app Instagram.
Notably, the controversy surrounding the singer’s visit is unfolding against the backdrop of strained relations between India and Canada. Canada on Monday accused Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjaar last June and expelled New Delhi’s intelligence chief in Ottawa in retaliation. The diplomatic move sent relations between the two countries, already bitter, to a dramatic new low.
India, meanwhile, rejected Justin Trudeau’s allegations, describing it as “absurd” and “uninspired”. In a counter-move, India expelled a senior Canadian diplomat and gave him 5 days to leave the country.
