Srinagar rocks to Pakistani band Junoon's music

Srinagar: Despite threats from militant organisations, thousands of Kashmiris, mostly youth, turned up for a musical concert organised by the South Asia Foundation (SAF) here on Sunday.

The star attraction was the Pakistani rock band Junoon, which performed in Srinagar for the first time and turned thousands of music lovers hysterical.

The event was to mark the opening of the Institute of Kashmir Studies at the Kashmir University funded by the Foundation. It was aimed at spreading the message of peace, love and harmony.

The United Jehad Council, the umbrella forum of militant organisations, had warned against organising the event. But that did not deter the youth who were determinated to watch Junoon's leader Salman Ali's performance on the banks of the Dal Lake.

SAF founder and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh had on Saturday brushed aside the threats. "I would not like to comment on issues related to poilitics... Ours is purely non political organisation", he said.

Dignitaries

Union Minister for Pancheyati Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar threw the concert open in the presence of a large number of dignitaries, who included the former Sri Lanka President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, Afghan Minister for Women Affairs H.B. Gazanfar, the former Foreign Minister pf Bangaldesh, Kamal Hassan, SAF's Pakistan chapter chairperson Saleema Hashimi, Pakistan Human Rights Commission chairperson I.A. Rehman, Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu N. Ram, Union Minister for Water Resources Saifunddin Soz and th former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah.

Besides Ali, Jeet Singh of the Singh Group's pop music enthralled the audience.

Jeet is the son of Madanjeet Singh and has played a significant role in organising the SAF.

As Salman began his most popular "Sayonee" (Oh my friend), the audience joined him, clapping and dancing. Throughout his nearly two-hour performance, the audience kept asking for more.

"It is great. I love this day", said Farah a college student. "We need this kind of opening after such a long turmoil", said Abrar a student of the Kashmir University.

Salman said that he had been longing for ten years to come to Kashmir.

"When I came to Mumbai for the first time in 1988, I told my promoter to take me to Kashmir. But he could not", he said.

"I came to India again in 1999, 2000 and 2001 but could not make it here". He was grateful to Madanjeet Singh who made his dream come true.

"It is a 10-year long tryst with destiny and Junoon is with you", he said amid thunderous applause from the audience.

His sisters asked him to get autographs from Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai when they heard he was planning to come to Mumbai.

"But I was surprised when Salman Khan, Judi Chawla and Kajol came to see me in my hotel and wanted my autographs for their sisters".

He reiterated his desire to bring India and Pakistan closer through music. On Saturday, Salman asked militants to join him in his "Musical Jehad" to bring peace and harmony.

This was in response to the UJC chief Syed Salahuddin's request to the Pakistan government to stop them from coming here.