Aman Gupta's boAt withdraws sponsorship of rapper Shubh's India concerts amid Khalistan row

Aman Gupta's boAt has withdrawn sponsorship for Shubh's upcoming concerts amid Khalistan row. (Image: @boatxaman and @shubhworldwide/Instagram)

Electronics brand boAt has announced its decision to withdraw sponsorship from the upcoming tour of Canada-based singer-rapper and alleged Khalistan supporter Shubneet Singh, known by his stage name Shubh. Shubh's concerts are scheduled from September 23 to 25 aboard Cordelia Cruises, Mumbai.

In an official statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), boAt asserted its Indian identity and made a resolute stand against any form of support for Khalistan.

"At boAt, while our commitment to the incredible music community runs deep, we are first & foremost a true Indian brand. Therefore, when we became aware of the remarks made by artist Shubh earlier this year, we chose to withdraw our sponsorship from the tour," declared the company.

boAt also said that it remains dedicated to nurturing emerging artists and fostering a “vibrant music culture” in India.

pic.twitter.com/zvWJTDfDOK

— boAt (@RockWithboAt) September 19, 2023

The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the ruling BJP, had previously taken action against Shubh's upcoming event. The BJYM members removed posters promoting Shubh's show and issued appeals to fans and organizers to cancel and boycott his events.

In the run up to the G20 summit, Pro-Khalistani graffiti, featuring slogans like 'Delhi Banega Khalistan' and 'Khalistan SFJ Referendum Zindabad,' recently appeared at multiple metro stations in the national capital.

Delhi Police has initiated an investigation into the matter and is taking legal action.

The co-founder of boAt is Shark Tank India judge Aman Gupta.

This development also comes on the heels of India expelling a senior Canadian diplomat after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that "agents of the Government of India" had a role in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. India has rejected the allegations as "absurd and motivated".