Who is Rehan Siddiqui
Pakistani national, Houston-based Rehan Siddiqui, who is known for organizing massive music concerts and film industry galas is now under the radar of the Indian government for his involvement in perpetrating anti-India activities, at the behest of Pakistan’s ISI.
Rehan Siddiqui, a successful business owner, concert producer and radio station personality and operator has more than 23 years experience in the music and radio industry. He has produced over 400 successful concerts with many of the biggest stars from South Asia and Bollywood. However, in recent times, many have raised eyebrows at Rehan Siddiqui’s inclinations and motives behind involving Bollywood superstars in his concerts. Claims suggest that he uses such opportunities to further anti-India propaganda among large number of audiences who readily buy it in the heat of the moment. Many film and cine worker associations have been writing to the government to put a stop to Siddiqui’s nefarious designs, and it turns out, that is now about to be done.
A report in the Times of India suggests that Indian authorities are tracking Rehan Siddiqui’s moves, who is all set to organise another mega Bollywood gala in the US this year. The funds raised from such events goes directly towards promoting Kashmir-related anti-India propaganda in the United States. This is an interesting angle as Pakistan is now desperate more than ever, post the abrogation of Article 370, in convincing the world community about India’s misadventures in Kashmir, only to be cold-shouldered by almost everyone. The report also quotes members of the Indian-American community alleging that Rehan Siddiqui is all set to orchestrate anti-CAA and pro-Khalistan protests in Houston.
“He owns a radio channel and brings Indian artistes to Houston for Bollywood concerts. He uses his radio channel as a platform to run anti-India propaganda,” TOI quoted a prominent member of the Indian community as saying.
His Business and Relations in Bollywood
Subsequently, the Indian community wrote to the Government of India to deny Rehan Siddiqui access to Bollywood artistes. It must be mentioned here that last year, famous Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh had cancelled his event in the US after it was revealed that Rehan Siddiqui may be involved in the same. Ashoke Pandit, chief advisor of FWICE (Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees, Principal complainant regarding Dosanjh’s event) lauded Diljit for his decision and wrote, “FWICE really appreciates this stand of @diljitdosanjh. This kind of a stand sends a strong message that for Indians country comes first irrespective of prejudices and choices. You have set a precedence for the future.”
FWICE has been working towards ensuring that no Bollywood stars associate themselves with Rehan Siddiqui. It had come down heavily on Saif Ali Khan and Shreya Ghoshal for indulging with Rehan Siddiqui, putting monetary benefits over national interest. Also last year, the All India Cine Workers Association, AICWA, had banned singer Mika Singh for performing in Karachi at a function of a close relative of Pervez Musharraf, allegedly in the presence of Dawood Ibrahim and his family.
Now that Rehan Siddiqui is under the government scanner for his nefarious activities, it is also possible that the masks of many Bollywood stars will be falling off soon, who may have knowingly performed for Rehan Siddiqui at his events, and directly contributed to anti-India activities in the US. Rehan Siddiqui in all likelihood is an ISI implant in the United States. If so, it only exposes how susceptible and vulnerable Indian artistes are to a few dollars, to the extent that they do not blink an eye before working with an ISI operative.
The Home Ministry has blacklisted Rehan Siddiqui
The Home Ministry has blacklisted a Pakistani event manager from America. This event manager named Rehan Siddiqui is from Houston city of America. Rehaan organizes events related to Bollywood but under the guise of funding anti-India and especially Kashmir propaganda. His suspicious activities were noticed by the NRIs earlier this year.
Let us tell you that this matter was raised by Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewale from Mumbai and in this regard wrote a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs on 17 February. In the letter, the Shiv Sena MP had demanded a ban on Indian artists from meeting anti-national elements in America.
After Rehan Siddiqui was blacklisted, Shiv Sena MP thanked the Ministry of Home Affairs and tweeted, ‘Zero tolerance policy against terrorism! I thank the Ministry of Home Affairs for accepting my demand to instruct our artists and actors to distance themselves from anti-national elements. I request all the artists of India to remove themselves from such shows or events.
The Home Ministry, through the Ministry of External Affairs, has urged the Indian Mission in Washington and the US Consulate General of India to keep an eye on cultural institutions. The Ministry of Home Affairs has clarified that through this strict step, Indian artists have also been given a message to stay away from anti-national elements.
Significantly, there is a lot of discussion on the social media about the Rehan Siddiqui case. There is a demand to boycott the Bollywood programs organized by him on social media.