The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab has replaced devotional singer Hans Raj Raghuwanshi with acclaimed playback singer Kailash Kher for its ongoing religious outreach series, "Ek Sham Bhagwan Shiv Ke Naam." The change aims to attract larger crowds and generate greater enthusiasm at the devotional evenings, according to party officials.
Series Background and Venue Details
The series began on June 14 in Jalandhar, with Raghuwanshi performing at four subsequent venues, including Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Batala. The next three programmes are scheduled for July 17 in Pathankot, July 18 in Mukerian, and July 19 in Dasuya. AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal has announced plans for 22 more events across Punjab, covering cities such as Moga, Ludhiana, Rupnagar, Patiala, Mohali, Bathinda, Mansa, and Kapurthala.
Reason for Singer Change
Deepak Bali, adviser to the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and key organiser of the events, announced the change via social media. He dismissed reports that Raghuwanshi had demanded a payment of Rs 40 lakh before performing at the last event, calling them baseless. “I have been in the show business for over three decades. I cannot allow an event attended by my political bosses to go haywire. We had to change the singer for the upcoming programmes because Raghuwanshi had prior professional commitments. Therefore, we decided to rope in Kailash Kher,” Bali said.
Kailash Kher's Appeal and Political Ties
Kher, known for his soulful voice and spiritually inspired music, enjoys a strong following among devotees in Punjab. His popular bhajans include "Bam Lahiri," "Teri Deewani," and several Shiva-themed songs. However, Kher is also considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which adds a political dimension to the move. The AAP leadership expects Kher's presence to draw larger crowds and boost the series' impact.
Fee and Contract Status
Kher's manager, Satish Iyer, stated that talks with the Punjab government are ongoing. “We are still in talks with the Punjab Government. The exact modalities are being finalised,” he said. Officials in the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department confirmed that the fee for Kher has not yet been finalised.
Political Context and Controversy
The AAP launched the bhajan series after a controversy in Jalandhar, where police attempted to stop a bhajan sandhya organised by estranged MLA and bhajan singer Raman Arora. Arora, who heads a temple committee, is now planning another religious event featuring spiritual preacher Pradeep Mishra. The series is part of AAP's broader outreach to religious communities in Punjab.
