Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Apr 24: In gross violations of the guidelines, a group of Kashmiri artists who performed at the Dubai Expo in January last year have held private events during the Government sponsored trip.
As per details, three of these artists attended three private musical events while they were in Dubai on a Government sponsored trip for which as per the officials Rs 17 lakh were spent on their boarding and lodging.
One of the private events was held at Garage Café, Umm Hurair Road on January 13, and was sponsored by Stone House Real Estate for which all the Kashmiris living in the UAE were invited. The second one was on the occasion of the Kashmir Super League-2022.
While the admission charges per person were 50 United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) for the Garage Café-as per the event poster which was circulated.
“The event you are referring to was purely complementary and we were not paid at all; it was for Kashmiris living there and there was no need for us to seek permission, we still did and the concerned official allowed us to perform, verbally,” Convenor, J&K Artists Association Mehmeet Syed told Excelsior.
Earlier, the JK Artists Association-which is not a registered amalgam of artists-accused the then Director, Industries and Commerce, Mehmood Ahmad Shah of “fraud,” denying them the payment as per the commitment made to them and even noting that what was promised to them was way less than the actual figures.
Replying to the allegations, the concerned officials said that the performance fee has been paid in accordance with the rates notified by the Cultural Academy, J&K.
They noted that due to a delay in the submission of the bills by FICCI and a change of guard at JKTPO, it was all and delayed.
“The amount on account of liabilities is expected to be paid to FICCI, who in turn shall make the payments to the concerned vendors,” officials said, adding an amount of Rs. 17 Lakhs was spent on the Boarding and Lodging of these 11 artists, who were part of the cultural troupe.
Mehmood Ahmad Shah, who is currently holding the post of Director Handicrafts & Handloom, Kashmir told Excelsior that he was not aware of the private events allegedly attended by the artists during the visit and that he will get it checked.
“I don’t know about it. I will raise the matter with the Government to know whether they were authorized to do it or not,” he said.
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