Kolkata: A day after singer Shilajit complained of overreaction by cops who had asked him to get off the stage during a performance at Central Park in Salt Lake, Bidhannagar Police has registered a complaint against the main organiser of the three-day event claiming they had extended the programme well after the permitted time of 10 pm, causing disturbance and complaints from locals.“Permission was allowed till 10 pm but the organisers went on with the programme. Upon receiving complaints we visited the site and had asked the organiser and even the singer’s manager to end the show. But they didn’t listen. So we had gestured to the artist to end the programme and come down. But we had never got on the stage or disrespected the performer,” said a senior officer of Bidhannagar City Police.Shilajit had gone to perform at the Salt Lake book fair grounds on Friday. As the performance was nearing its end, a cop responsible for security from the audience area signalled him to wrap up and waved him off the stage. This prompted a strong protest from him.Videos have circulated of Shilajit grabbing the microphone and erupting in protest as he said: “I am stepping down from the stage. But sir, I’m telling you—don’t signal me to leave in such a rude way. I’ve been singing in West Bengal for 32 years. You may not recognize me, but many people here know me. If I sing for five more minutes, so many people will be happy. How does that harm you? During elections would you ask a leader to get off the stage in the same manner?”Speaking to TOI Shilajit clarified he was not late to the venue and had arrived at Karunamoyee around 7 pm, well before his scheduled performance. “There was no question of reaching the venue late,” he said, explaining that Cactus was slated to perform before him but their set began behind schedule which frontman Sidhu had messaged him about in advance.
