Authorities have further tightened security measures Indian Kashmir after international music icon Zubin Mehta decided to go ahead with  Saturday’s (September 7) musical concert in Shalimar garden in conflict-hit region.

Srinagar, Sept 6/Nationalturk – With international music icon Zubin Mehta deciding to go ahead with  Saturday’s (September 7) musical concert in Shalimar garden in Indian Kashmir, authorities in the region have further tightened security measures to ensure smooth conduct of the musical show, the conduct of which has been opposed  by separatist leaders and civil society of the conflict-hit region.

The Indian-born conductor Zubin Mehta seems unfazed over the criticism and opposition to his musical concert from the separatist and religious groups besides civil society members in Indian Kashmir

“Let the music speak for itself. It will happen, and will be broadcast across 24 European countries,” Zubin told Indian English daily, Mumbai Mirror over phone from Munich.

He further said he is really looking forward to it.

The 77-year-old Mehta will perform with the 100-strong Bavarian State Orchestra at the historic Shalimar garden on the banks of world famous Dal Lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir tomorrow.

Zubin Mehta is the music director for life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been conferred Israeli Presidential Medal of Distinction for his “outstanding contribution to culture in the State of Israel”.

90-minute musical concert first of its kind in Indian Kashmir

The 90-minute musical concert ‘Ehsaas-e-Kashmir’ (the feel of Kashmir), which is the first of its kind in strife torn Indian Kashmir and will see an audience of 1,500 guests, including foreign diplomats, has been organised by German Embassy in India.

According to media reports Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India, Salman Bashir, Chinese ambassador, ambassadors of European Union countries in India have been invited to attend the musical concert, which will be aired live in over 100 countries.

German Ambassador to India Michael Steiner has been supervising the arrangements for the classical music concert.

A day before the musical concert, authorities intensified security arrangements in Srinagar and other parts of Indian Kashmir.

The area around Shalimar garden, where the musical concert will be held, has been taken over by security agencies. The sharp shooters and commandos have taken positions a top all high rise buildings in the area.

Venue area santisied, road blockades setup, vehicles searched

The area has been sanitized and all the vehicles entering or leaving the area are being thoroughly checked by police and paramilitary soldiers, who have set up road blockades in the area to ensure screening of all the vehicles.

People living near the venue  have been directed by authorities not to travel after 1300 hours. “People living in areas around Shalimar Garden should travel before 1300 hours on the day of the function,” an official spokesman said.

Scores of CCTV cameras have been installed in and around the concert venue.

All the roads leading to the venue (Shalimar garden) and hotels where members of the Bavarian State Orchestra and foreign diplomats, who have been invited for the concert, will be staying have been sealed off.  Police and paramilitary soldiers are also carrying out patrols in water of Dal Lake to ensure fool proof security for the musical concert.

“As a security measure, the civilian movement in the Dal Lake has been restricted,” a senior police official said.

He said all the vehicles moving on Boulevard road, leading to Shalimar garden, are being checked and occupants thoroughly frisked. “The security measures will be further intensified from this evening”.

The authorities have deployed hundreds of police and paramilitary soldiers across Srinagar and the security men have put up road blockades. The security men were searching vehicles and their occupants at these roadblocks.

Officials in Srinagar said all steps necessary would be taken to maintain law and order in the region on Saturday. “In case need arises, security restrictions can be imposed,” a top civil official of the region said recently.

Musical concert has evoked opposition

The separatist leaders, religious leader and civil society members of Indian Kashmir have opposed holding of musical concert by Germany in the region.

Senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani has called for protests and a shutdown against musical concert on Saturday. “Kashmir is a disputed territory and German embassy in India should not have organized musical concert in the region,” he said adding musical show is as an attempt to give legitimacy to “Indian rule” in Kashmir

He said Germany must accept the disputed nature of Kashmir and recognise the pain and legitimate political and legal struggle of its people.

The moderate separatist leader and cleric Mirwaiz Umer Farooq has also opposed holding of such a concert in disputed Kashmir. “The money spent on the musical concert should have been instead spent on education, healthcare and other needs of the Kashmiri people,” he has said.

Kashmir’s Grand Mufti Basheer-ud-Din while opposing holding of musical concert, has said the concert in a “disputed land would convey a wrong signal internationally that Kashmiris have enough prosperity and leisure to attend an event like this”.

Civil society comes up with parallel musical concert

The civil society groups have also opposed the event and come up with an idea of holding parallel musical concert ‘Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir’ (The truth about Kashmir)  to pay tributes to those who were killed in Kashmir since 1989 after eruption of militancy in the region. .

The protest concert is scheduled to be held 10km away from the venue of Mehta’s concert at Lal Chowk’s Municipal Park. The civil society groups have applied for a permission to hold the protest concert in the wake of Section 144, which disallows assembly of more than five people, being implemented in Srinagar. Authorities have not yet granted permission for holding of the parallel concert.

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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk India News

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