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    Canadian-Punjabi singer Shubh under fire! BoAt drops sponsorship ahead of Mumbai concert; Virat Kohli unfollows on Instagram

    The controversy stems from a social media post where Shubh shared a distorted map of IndiaAgencies
    The controversy stems from a social media post where Shubh shared a distorted map of India. (Image Source: Instagram/ @shubhworldwide)

    Story outline

    • Canadian-Punjabi singer Shubh faces controversy ahead of his Mumbai concert
    • BoAt withdrew sponsorship due to allegations of Shubh's support for Khalistani separatist elements
    • Cricketers Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, & Hardik Pandya unfollowed Shubh on social media
    • Controversy arose from Shubh's earlier social media post featuring a distorted map of India
    Canadian-Punjabi singer Shubhneet Singh, popularly known as Shubh, has found himself in the midst of controversy as he gears up for his upcoming concert in Mumbai.

    The turmoil stems from allegations of his support for Khalistani separatist elements, which has led to consumer lifestyle brand BoAt to pull out their sponsorship from Shubh’s Mumbai concert.

    BoAt's Sponsorship Withdrawal

    The company clarified its decision, emphasizing its commitment to being an Indian brand.

    In a statement shared on X (Twitter), boAt expressed, "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."


    Cricketing World Reacts

    Further, ex-Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who had previously expressed his admiration for Shubh on social media, unfollowed the singer on Instagram following the controversy.

    Apart from Kohli, cricketers Hardik Pandya & KL Rahul also unfollowed Shubh, though the exact timing of their actions remains unclear.

    What's The Controversy?

    The entire controversy surrounding Shubh escalated when members of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) tore down posters promoting his event, citing concerns about his alleged support for Khalistani separatists.

    Their objections stem from a social media post by Shubh, wherein he shared a distorted map of India, omitting Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. This post coincided with the Punjab Police's pursuit of a fugitive named Amritpal Singh.


    India-Canada Tensions Grow

    This controversy comes as tensions between India and Canada have escalated due to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations of "potential" Indian links to the killing of a Khalistani separatist leader.

    In response, India has expelled a senior Canadian diplomat, citing concerns about the "interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities," as per the Ministry of External Affairs.

    The ties between the two nations have strained further, with talks on a bilateral free trade agreement being frozen.

    This upcoming concert of Shubh, scheduled from September 23 to 25, is part of the Cruise Control 4.0 event, which has been touted as 'Asia's biggest cruise festival' aboard the Cordelia Cruise.

    Shubh, who has garnered a substantial following with hits like 'Elevated', 'OG', and 'Cheques', boasts 3.24 million subscribers on YouTube. His debut album 'Still Rollin' recently achieved a remarkable milestone of 100 million streams on Spotify in under two months.

    India rejects Canadian PM Justin Trudeau's 'absurd' claim of its hand in Nijjar's killing

    India on Tuesday announced expulsion of a Canadian diplomat hours after Canada asked an Indian official to leave that country, citing a "potential" Indian link to the killing of a Khalistani separatist leader in June. The Canadian High Commissioner to India was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and informed about the decision to expel the senior Canadian diplomat.

    ( Originally published on Sep 19, 2023 )

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