Virat Kohli unfollows his favourite artist on Instagram, here's why

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Senior India cricketer Virat Kohli unfollowing the Canadian Punjabi singer, Shubh, on social media is grabbing a lot of headlines. Shubh was on the verge of performing a concert in India but found himself on the receiving end of a major controversy due to an Instagram story he shared.

Due to the controversy, which added to the wave of dissent against Shubh, Kohli - whom the legendary India cricketer once considered one of his favourite artists - unfollowed the singer on social media.

The post, presenting a distorted map of India with Punjab and Haryana shadowed out, sparked outrage across the nation, leading to a call for the cancellation of his concert. Even Kohli disassociated himself from the singer by unfollowing him.

This act strengthens the widespread disapproval of Shubh's post. Despite the uproar, the singer hasn't responded to the controversy encapsulating his post.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), called for the cancellation of Shubh's concert. They accused the singer of supporting Khalistanis, thus instigating a threat to India's unity and integrity. BJYM President, Tajinder Singh Tiwana, expressed strong discontentment and warned of opposition if appropriate action was not taken.

boAt, an Indian electronics company, following the controversy, pulled out its sponsorship for Shubh's tour to India. The firm, in their statement, mentioned that promoting a vibrant music culture in India is their goal and they decided to withdraw after becoming aware of Shubh's unacceptable remarks.

The ongoing controversy surrounding Shubh's Instagram post underscores the sensitivity of national symbols and their portrayal in popular culture. While we wait for a response from Shubh, this episode is a stark reminder of the importance of respecting a country's sovereignty, unity and integrity. The implications of this controversy continue to unfold, putting a damper on Shubh's scheduled concert.

Meanwhile, the relations between India and Canada have also turned sour ever since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged a "potential" involvement of Indian government agents in the killing of a Khalistani separatist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in June this year. Nijjar, the Canadian Khalistani separatist leader, was shot dead by two gunmen in Surrey on June 18.

In his statement in the House of Commons on Monday (September 18), Trudeau said that "any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty." India on Tuesday (September 19) strongly rejected Trudeau's allegations as "absurd" and "motivated" and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move to Ottawa's expulsion of an Indian official over the case.