As the winters set in, various cities across the country see artists performing at concerts, and Pune is no exception. The city recently hosted artists like Diljit Dosanjh, Shreya Ghoshal, and Alan Walker. However, the opposition from Punekars, especially from Kothrud, marked these events.
While Diljit’s concert was not canceled, the NH7 Weekender music festival was. The festival was scheduled to take place on Dec 14 and 15 at Teerth Fields in Sus, featuring prominent Indian artists like Amit Trivedi, Usha Uthup, and Raftaar, as well as international acts such as Jorja Smith and DJ Craze. However, it was cancelled on Saturday.
The organisers of the NH7 Weekender music festival issued a statement saying, “We are extremely disheartened to inform you that NH7 Weekender 2024 will no longer take place on December 14th-15th due to law and order restrictions in Pune. We are deeply saddened by this turn of events. Despite our best efforts to resolve the situation and having everything ready for the gates to open, it ultimately remained beyond our control. We assure all ticket holders that they will receive a refund via our ticketing partner, Insider/District, within 7-10 days. Detailed instructions for the refund process will be communicated in the coming days. We apologize for the inconvenience and deeply appreciate your unwavering support. As we enter the 15th year of the festival, the Weekender family means more to us than ever. Thank you for standing by us (sic).”
Despite strong opposition from Pune Guardian Minister Chandrakant Patil and protests from Kothrud residents, the concert by Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh proceeded as planned at Suryakant Kakade Farms in Kothrud without any hindrance.
Patil had instructed the Pune Police Commissioner, Excise Department, and District Collector to cancel the concert, and he had also announced that his party would organize a protest march if the event went ahead.
However, in a last-minute move, the state excise department canceled the permit for serving liquor at the Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh’s musical concert in the Kothrud area of Pune city.
While the liquor consumption license for the concert was canceled, the event itself proceeded as scheduled. Charan Singh Rajput from the State Excise Pune Department explained the cancellation of the liquor license. Residents are now questioning why the concert was allowed to take place despite Patil’s clear instructions to cancel it.
Several politicians, including Congress’s Ravindra Dhangekar, have criticized the administration over the concert in the area.
Pune is known as the cultural capital of the state and hosts many music festivals like Sawai Gandharv Music Festival and Vasantotsav. However, the concept of concerts, followed by noise pollution and traffic jams, has irritated residents in areas like Kothrud, Baner, and Sus. Recently, there was opposition when Diljit’s concert was scheduled.
Now, after the concert took place despite the protests, Kothrud residents are concerned that their area will become the new Kalyani Nagar. They are demanding that organizers cancel upcoming programs and concerts in their area, as they believe these events will bring issues like the open sale of liquor, loud noise, and traffic jams. The residents claim that they are opposed to those who spoil the culture of Kothrud.
Earlier, while speaking with the Free Press Journal, Satish Mulay, a resident of Kothrud, said, “We don’t want our area to become the new Kalyani Nagar. Nothing is in our hands; the politicians do what they feel is right. They don’t think about the residents, and now that BJP is ruling the entire nation, what can we say? They do what they like.”
