Omar allows 'Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir', parallel to Zubin Mehta's concert in J-K

The Jammu and Kashmir government has given permission for a parallel concert planned by valley-based civil society groups against maestro Zubin Mehta's concert on Saturday. Peerzada Ashiq reports.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has given permission for a parallel concert planned by valley-based civil society groups against maestro Zubin Mehta's concert on Saturday.

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The Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir (the reality of Kashmir) concert will begin at 4.30pm in Srinagar's Lal Chowk on Saturday, half an hour before Mehta's Ehsaas-e-Kashmir (feeling of Kashmir) concert at Shalimar Bagh 10km away.

"We have given the permission for the event. It will take place between 4.30 and 6.30pm," Kashmir divisional commissioner Shailendra Kumar said on Friday.

The government's nod to the protest concert came following a meeting of state and security officials to assess the ground situation. Despite opposition from some quarters, particularly security agencies, the civil administration decided to give the go-ahead.

Of four meetings held to debate the path to be taken on the protest concert, one was chaired by chief minister Omar Abdullah.

Reacting to new of the government's permission for Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir, the event's spokesperson Khurram Pervez said, "If allowed without any preconditions, we will go ahead with the concert."

Students, folk artistes and rappers have been invited to be part of Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir.