Noted ‘shayar’ of Indore and eminent lyricist of Bollywood Rahat Indori has been denied VISA by the United States. Surprisingly American embassy officials have given no reason as to why they denied VISA to Rahat Indori who has a huge fan following not only in India but across the world.
Congress leaders of the city have reacted strongly to denial of VISA to Indori alleging that that the latter might have been denied visa as he happens to be a Muslim.
According to report, Rahat Indori had been invited in an international `mushaira’ in Texas (United States) on May 7 next month by a Texas based NRI Noor Amrohi. Apart from Rahat, many celebrated `shayars’ from across the world have been invited in the international `mushaira’.
Reacting to denial of visa to him, Rahat said that the American High Commission in Mumbai had called him for an interview on his visa application on Tuesday. After he completed all the formalities, one of the embassy officials told him that his visa had been cancelled.
Apparently perturbed by the turn of event, Rahat said the embassy officials did not give him any reason as to why his visa application had been cancelled, whereas he had been to United States on 10-12 occasions and took part in `mushairas’ in several cities.
Rahat Indori is famous all-over the world for his unique style of shayri presentation. He has also penned songs for several Bollywood movies including Karib and Munnabhai MBBS.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leaders of the city including Indore City Congress president Pramod Tandon and party spokespersons Jauhar Maanpurwala reacting strongly to denial of visa to Rahat Indori, took a dig at US embassy alleging that it might be because of Rahat being a Muslim, was denied visa.