BookMyShow Cancels Singer Shubh’s Show, Offers Refunds Amid India-Canada Row

BookMyShow, a popular ticketing platform, has canceled the upcoming India tour of Punjabi-Canadian singer Shubhneet Singh, known as Shubh. This decision comes amidst a diplomatic crisis between India and Canada, triggered by the singer’s alleged pro-Khalistan views and social media posts. The move to cancel the tour follows boAt’s withdrawal of sponsorship for Shubh’s tour and Indian cricketer Virat Kohli unfollowing the singer on Instagram.

BookMyShow has taken a proactive step by canceling Shubh’s “Still Rollin Tour” in India. The company has announced that it will provide full refunds to customers who had purchased tickets for the show. The refund process is expected to be completed within 7-10 working days, with the refunded amount returned to the original source account.

The cancellation comes in the wake of allegations made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) youth wing, which accused Shubh of supporting the Khalistan movement. They submitted a memorandum to the Mumbai Police Commissioner, urging strict action against the singer. The political group also called for the cancellation of Shubh’s performances and announced plans to stage protests.

Tajinder Singh Tiwana, President of the BJP youth wing, stated, “Shubh has more than 1 million followers on social media, including youth from India. Just recently, on March 23, he shared an image of India on his Instagram account, omitting Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab from the map. He also made another post in a story format titled ‘Pray for Punjab.’ This action directly challenges the integrity of India, and such individuals have no place in our nation.”

The controversy surrounding Shubh and the cancellation of his tour led to the trending hashtag #UninstallBookMyShow on social media platforms, with many users expressing their anger and calling for a boycott of the ticketing platform.

The diplomatic dispute between India and Canada that contributed to these events began when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June of the same year. India swiftly dismissed Canada’s accusation as baseless. The tensions have exacerbated the already strained relations between the two nations and have cast a shadow over trade talks, which have been put on hold.

Shubh, an emerging Punjabi rapper, gained fame through his song ‘Still Rollin’, which garnered numerous streams on Instagram reels. His debut single ‘We Rollin,’ released in 2021, has garnered over 201 million views on YouTube as of 2023. He recently launched his debut album ‘Still Rollin’ and announced his first-ever India tour, covering 10 different cities and a cruise. BookMyShow was one of the sponsors of this Indian tour.

In summary, BookMyShow’s decision to cancel Shubh’s India tour reflects the growing tensions between India and Canada due to the singer’s alleged pro-Khalistan views. This move has led to discussions and debates on social media platforms, with some users advocating for a boycott of the ticketing platform. The diplomatic row has also cast a shadow over trade talks between the two countries.