T-Series unlists new Atif Aslam song | Image Credits: YouTube, PTI | Photo Credit: PTI

In the wake of the deadly Pulwama terror attack, the film division of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) political party on Saturday asked music label companies to cease working with Pakistani artists. The deadly attack took a toll on the lives of as many as 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans and has been heavily condemned by the nation, including Bollywood personalities.

While several celebrities took to social media to mourn the loss of the martyred jawans, some including Shabana Azmi have also proposed and voiced out their opinions in favour of a cultural exchange ban against Pakistan.

MNS Chitrapat Sena head Amey Khopkar told news agency PTI, “We have verbally communicated to Indian music companies like T-Series, Sony Music, Venus, Tips Music etc to not work with Pakistani singers. These companies should stop it immediately or we will take action in our own style.”

Only recently, Dil Diyan Gallan singer Atif Aslam and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who has sung Mere Rashke Qamar, had collaborated with Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series. Amey Khopkar further told the news agency, "They have removed their songs (from the company's YouTube channel) post our warning."

Only a day before the attack, Atif Aslam had collaborated with the record label on his new track Baarishein but the music video remains unlisted on Youtube. The video featuring Nushrat Bharucha would not appear anywhere on an internet search.

At the time of 2016’s Uri attacks as well, the party led by Raj Thackeray had similarly given the Pakistani artistes in India a time of 48 hours to leave the country.