Singer Papon cancels Delhi concert over Citizenship (Amendment) Bill

As north-east India is currently on boil following the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Parliament, singer Papon on Thursday called off a music concert in Delhi saying that he will not be able to entertain his fans when his "home state Assam is burning, crying and under curfew."

The singer, who hails from Guwahati, took to Twitter and announced, "Dear Delhi. I am very sorry but I have decided not to do the concert tomorrow at 'imperfectoshor' as planned! My home state Assam is burning, crying and under curfew! I won't be able to entertain you the way I should in my present state of mind."

The 44-year-old actor slammed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and said, "It's painful to see the way Assam is burning! Humanity is suffering."

"Assam has been burdened with illegal immigration for decades! We don't deserve this! The diverse, complex mix of the Assamese culture & people and their existence needs to be understood! We need to be heard properly," he added.

Extending his apologies to his fans who had booked his full-packed show for December 13 in Delhi, the singer said, "I know this is unfair on you as you had bought tickets and planned long ahead. I am sure the organizers will take care of that in some way and as promised I'll see you all on another day in future! I hope you will understand."

Earlier on Wednesday, actor Adil Hussain who also has an Assamese background expressed his displeasure towards the bill through Twitter.

"When we were born, our families had cheered because our mothers had given birth to a Human & not a squirrel! We were born a human FIRST. If we cannot retain, protect & celebrate the PRIMARY identity than what's the USE of calling ourselves a Muslim, Hindu, Assamese or a Bengali?" the actor tweeted.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill which grants citizenship to the non-Muslims who arrived in India before December 31, 2014, smoothly sailed through Parliament after the Rajya Sabha passed it on Wednesday.

The bill was earlier approved by the Lok Sabha on Monday.