Pune: A music concert by Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh went ahead at Kakade Farms in Kothrud on Sunday (November 24) , despite instructions from Maharashtra Minister and Kothrud MLA Chandrakant Patil to cancel the event.
Patil had directed both the police commissioner and the excise department to stop the concert, citing concerns about public inconvenience, traffic issues, and noise levels.
The concert was anticipated to draw a crowd exceeding 50,000 people, which sparked opposition from local residents as well as political parties like the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
These groups opposed the event, with some even threatening protests to prevent it from taking place.
Senior BJP leader Chandrakant Patil also objected to the concert, insisting that the event should be canceled to avoid disruptions and noise pollution in the area.
Asserting his position, Patil directed the police and excise officials to halt the concert. This intervention led to widespread speculation that the event would be canceled; however, the concert proceeded without any disruptions, leading to surprise and confusion among local residents.
Following the event, some residents reported that it caused severe traffic congestion and other inconveniences.
Patil had previously stated that if the concert were held, he would personally lead a major protest march under the BJP banner.
Despite this strong opposition and Patil’s instructions, the concert took place, prompting questions from Kothrud residents regarding the reasons behind the police’s decision to allow the event.
Statement from Chandrakant Patil
In a prior statement, Patil expressed his opposition to the concert as both an MLA and a citizen, emphasizing that his objections were not solely based on the expected sale of alcohol at the event, but also due to concerns about traffic and loud noise.
He described such events as a negative influence on society, reiterating that if the concert proceeded, he would personally lead a BJP-led protest.
In a separate development, the liquor license for the event was revoked, with clarification provided by Charansingh Rajput of the Pune State Excise Department.
