BoAt ends sponsorship for Canadian singer Shubh's India tour over controversial remarks
BoAt ends sponsorship for Shubh's India tour: Electronics brand boAt has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Canada-based Punjabi singer Shubneet Singh's upcoming India tour, the company announced on Tuesday. The development comes amid intensifying diplomatic tensions between India and Canada over the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The singer, earlier this year, sparked controversy when he posted a distorted map of India without Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab on his Instagram account.
"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," Boat said.
''We will continue to foster a vibrant music culture in India and create platforms where emerging artists can show their talent,'' the company's statement further read.
Notably, Shubneet Singh, better known by his stage name Shubh, is scheduled to put on a show in Mumbai from September 23-25 as part of the Cruise Control 4.0 event, which will take place aboard the Cordelia Cruise. He will also perform in New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
Cricketer Virat Kohli recently unfollowed Shubh on Instagram.
Tensions between the two countries intensified after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that evidence pointed to India's involvement in the June killing of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The Ministry of External Affairs, however, rejected these charges, calling them "absurd and motivated." Issuing a statement, India said, “We have seen and rejected the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister.”
“Allegations of the Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated. Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister, and were completely rejected,” the MEA stated.
Also Read: Tit-for-Tat move: India expels Canadian diplomat amid deepening row over assassinated Sikh activist
- With inputs from agencies
