Trolls force AAI to cancel T M Krishna's concert

The Airports Authority of India has scrapped a show by noted musician T M Krishna after some trolls hit him with "anti-India" comments, The Indian Express reports.

Krishna, a noted Carnatic musician, was meant to take part in a two-day festival in Nehru Park in the national capital, which is jointly organised by the AAI and SPIC-MACAY.

Krishna was one of the artistes who were invited by the AAI to perform at the event in a tweet. But soon after he retweeted AAI's invitation, right-wing trolls descended upon his and AAI's handle, accusing him of distorting Carnatic music and called him "Urban Naxal", "anti-Modi" and "anti-India".

#AAI cordially invites you to a Carnatic vocal performance by @tmkrishna who will be accompanied by R.K. Shriramkumar on violin, Praveen Sparsh on Mridangam & Anirudh Athreya on Kanjira - on 17th November in the 2nd edition of 'Dance & Music in the Park' at Nehru Park, Delhi. pic.twitter.com/8ZiUd4n2xC

— Airports Authority of India (@AAI_Official) November 10, 2018

In reponse to the attacks, Krishna said that he was ready to perform as long as he was given a stage.

However, the AAI denied that the concert was cancelled. "Because of some exigencies of work, we are not in a position to go ahead with the dance & music concert jointly organised with SPIC MACAY on 17th and 18th November, 2018, at Nehru Park, New Delhi".

We would like to inform that due to some urgent engagements, 'Dance and Music in the Park' programme jointly organized by #AAI and @spicmacay, scheduled for 17th & 18th November, 2018 has been postponed and new dates would be shared shortly. Inconvenience caused is regretted.

— Airports Authority of India (@AAI_Official) November 14, 2018

In addition to Krishna, dancers Sonal Mahasingh and Priyadarsini Govind, and sitarist Shahid Parvez Khan were expected to perform at the event.