Babul Supriyo wants Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's voice in Welcome to New York song replaced

Singer-turned-Union minister Babul Supriyo has demanded that Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan`s voice be removed and dubbed from a song that features in Bollywood film Welcome To New York.Supriyo wants another singer to re-record the song that has been sung by Khan.

When Supriyo learnt about the incident, he said he was not able to comprehend the need or desire to cross the border for entertainment content at a time when tensions on the India-Pakistan border had escalated.

"If that`s true, I would request the makers of the film to remove Rahat`s voice and get someone else to dub it! I am also not sure why Atif Aslam got to sing Dil diya gallanwhen for sure our very own Arijit could have done a much better job. The FM stations played the song galore while news channels announced the name of our soldiers martyred by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists," he was quoted as saying by news agency.

Supriyo, though mentioned that he had no problem with Atif Aslam or Rahat Fateh Ali Khan as individuals.

"Atif as an artist sounds great in Dil diya gallanand Rahat is a great singer too. But it`s important to clarify that our problem is not with the artists Atif or Rahat, but with their Pakistani nationality. It`s not a political stand but probably the families who have lost their sons, brothers, fathers would feel a lot better should the entire country show solidarity in any manner possible."

Stating that the film industry had a national responsibility, he recalled that how Bollywood had made a promise to not work with Pakistani artists when Ae Dil Hai Mushkil had released. "Bollywood is an integral part of that Indianism. It represents India worldwide, hence banning Pakistani artists in Indian films would have also taken the protest against organized terrorism by the rogue nation, worldwide. And, I very clearly recall that such a promise was made when Ae Dil Hai Mushkilhad met protests due to Fawad Khan. And why is Pakistan's entertainment industry silent over cross-border terrorism," Supriyo wondered.

"It`s pertinent to note that one cannot recall a single Pakistani artist made famous by Bollywood, condemn terror acts by Pakistan. Enough is enough now, ban them for their only crime, that is being a Pakistani. Let we Indians wear our hearts on our sleeves and let our hearts beat in salutation of the sacrifice of our brave hearts," the singer further added.