Pakistani-origin musician and singer Adnan Sami and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, recently engaged in a full blown spat on Twitter over the mixed reports on the success of music concert that was held on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar.
On Saturday, the 46-year-old singer performed at the “Rhythm in Paradise” concert in Srinagar. The event was jointly organised by the Union Home Ministry and the Jammu and Kashmir government at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre.
As per officials, it was initiative was reportedly to send a message that Kashmiri society is associated with religious harmony and the Sufi tradition.
Pictures of the same were shared on social media:
Traditionally, Kashmir is all about beautiful Art, Culture & Tourism. Adnan Sami concert at Srinagar was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! pic.twitter.com/126ANrvdj5
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) October 8, 2017
2nite Kashmir was a dream fulfilled.Srinagar, U ROCKED! Thank U 4 d Love & Generous Hospitality! Thank U 4 Singing wt Me. We made History!🙏💖 pic.twitter.com/k6niHV8D8Z
— Adnan Sami (@AdnanSamiLive) October 7, 2017
Here is video of @AdnanSamiLive ‘s live concert at lawns of SKICC Srinagar Kashmir
Thank you so much @AdnanSamiLive pic.twitter.com/Jq0rLPVHjj— Kaisar Qureshi (@Kaisar012) October 7, 2017
@AdnanSamiLive spreading love and peace. Wonderful performance on the banks of Dal Lake #AdnanSami #kashmir #peace pic.twitter.com/jyxPTJYzAT
— Tahir Syeed (@TahirsyeedK) October 7, 2017
However, photos and videos of empty seats at the venue also started doing the rounds on the internet even before the concert could begin.
Empty seats at Adnan Sami Concert and we are past the scheduled Start time. PR disaster for JK govt led by @MehboobaMufti pic.twitter.com/v2bBGTRNoa
— Inayat Jehangir (@Jehangir_Inayat) October 7, 2017
Look at the hospitality. Focussing down camera to a close seating arrangement doesn’t hide the emptiness of the chairs. Shameless pic.twitter.com/7MvKwrajcL
— miryaver (@yavermir) October 8, 2017
Empty seats all-over pic.twitter.com/ohd3Dlv08A
— Ahtisham Ahmad War (@WarAhtisham) October 8, 2017
This ultimately led to a speculation that the show was a super flop.
And thereafter, state’s former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah re-tweeted photos addressing the lack of attendees at the concert.
That’s a real pity. I hope people have filled those seats now. For an evening they can let the music transport them to a more peaceful place https://t.co/4DJJNFCfQG
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 7, 2017
And why can’t they start things as per schedule. Restlessness is growing even among the “select audience” https://t.co/JN8SI4tGbL
— Inayat Jehangir (@Jehangir_Inayat) October 7, 2017
Empty seats waits for @AdnanSamiLive concert to start on the Banks of Dal Lake #Srinagar #Kashmir pic.twitter.com/ZAYRtFtvo8
— Umar Ganie (@UmarGanie1) October 7, 2017
He even took a jibe at the government for supporting the event.
The empty seats & delayed start are showing Kashmir for what it is – empty hotels, poor governance & general public despondency. https://t.co/ojcNjaYUQC
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 7, 2017
Why couldn’t it have just been about the music? Why did the Home Ministry have to make it about propaganda? https://t.co/ojcNjaYUQC
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 7, 2017
These series of tweets by Omar, however, did not go down too well with Adnan Sami.
He called him out and the war of words between the two began.
Bro ur a former CM..U shouldn’t be so unnerved by a music concert. U obviously have bad sources who lie 2 U – HERE are d photos!!🙌😁#GrowUp pic.twitter.com/RPB6NbFqaP
— Adnan Sami (@AdnanSamiLive) October 7, 2017
Sami’s concert was held four years after renowned Western classical music conductor Zubin Mehta performed his ‘Ehsas-e-Kashmir’ at the Shalimar Mughal Gardens.
(Feature Image Source: AFP & Twitter)