Earlier this week, the All-India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) banned singer Mika Singh from working in India after he performed at an event in Karachi, Pakistan.

According to reports, Mika Singh performed at the wedding ceremony of a close relative of Pakistan’s former president Pervez Musharraf. 

Suresh Shyamlal Gupta, president of the AICWA, shared the news through an official letter. “AICWA bans and boycott singer Mika Singh from the Indian film industry for performing at a high-profile event at Karachi dated August 8, 2019. AICWA takes a tough stand of immediately boycotting all his association with movie production houses, music companies and online music content providers (sic),” said the letter. 

Gupta also warned that anyone who works with Mika Singh would face the consequences. “AICWA workers will make sure no one in India works with Mika Singh and if anyone does, they will face legal consequences,” the letter added.

Gupta said he had sent copies of the letter to the Union information and broadcasting minister and to prime minister Narendra Modi. “When the tension between the countries is at its peak, Mika Singh puts money above the nation. AICWA requested the information and broadcasting ministry to intervene and act legally [against] the singer,” Gupta further said in his letter. 

Meanwhile, Mika Singh returned to India yesterday, which was Independence Day, through the Wagah border in Punjab. He posted a video where he can be seen chanting patriotic slogans with the crowd while moving towards the Indian side. 

In another development, Ameya Khopkar, a leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), thanked Mika Singh for contributing towards housing for the victims of the floods in Maharashtra. The rehabilitation project is being undertaken by the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Parishad. 

Interestingly, Khopkar and the MNS have been vocal against Indian artists working with Pakistanis ever since the terrorist attack in Uri in September 2016. Hence Khopkar ignoring the latest controversy and instead applauding Mika Singh is a bit of a surprise.