Sushma Swaraj Intervenes In Amjad Ali Khan’s Visa Issue

On Friday after all hell broke loose when Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan was denied a visa to perform in the UK, the Minister Of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj personally spoke to the British High Commissioner  to India.

The matter is expected to be sorted out and cleared at the highest level.

Says Amjad Ali Khan, “Sushma Swarajjee has met the High Commissioner of the UK.He has assured all the help and  support.”

Barely 24 hours after Shah Rukh Khan, Amjad Ali Khan’s surname seems to have been a matter of dispute and distrust in a foreign land.

But the Ustad would like to give the British government the benefit of the doubt. “The reason for a visa denial could be something else other my being a Khan.The application filed by the organizers of the UK concert could have been inadequately filled.The NRI organizer of the concert  is a Sikh Sardar gentleman  in London. He  runs an organization called Durbar and is well-connected with the Arts Council.This Sardarjee  organises  a music festival in London every year.”

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan says his visa form is now being corrected and re-submitted. “The Durbar organisation is  trying to correct and re-fill the visa application.Khuda jaane sachchai kyaa hai .But I don’t want my British audiences to suffer on this account.Many other eminent musicians are participating in this festival. I would not like to believe the issue is my being Muslim  or because my name is KHAN.”