Ghulam Ali to perform in Kolkata on January 12

Ghazal enthusiasts in India have good reason to rejoice: Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali and his son will be performing in Kolkata next week, reported The Indian Express.

The father-son duo will be performing at an event on January 12. Ghulam Ali's concerts in Mumbai and Delhi were cancelled in 2015 due to threats from Shiv Sena, a Hindu extremist party in Maharashtra. The singer, who had then vowed to not perform in India until Pak-India relations improved, has confirmed his participation in the upcoming concert, organised by West Bengal Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (WBMDFC) at the Park Circus Maidan in Kolkata.

The Congress MP and chairman of the group Sultan Ahmed said that Ghulam Ali has confirmed his performance: "Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was eager to host the legendary singer and accordingly we wrote to Ghulam Ali urging him to perform here. He has confirmed his participation at the event."

He added that security arrangements will be taken care in the light of recent attack at Indian Air Force base in Pathankot: "Several eminent personalities including the chief minister will be present at the event. Elaborate security arrangements will be put in place," he assured.

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien took to Twitter to announce the event and posted: "Pete Seeger performed at a peace concert at Park Circus Maidan Kolkata in the early 1960s. The music plays on... 2016 Jan 12 Ghulam Ali."