Australian minister apologises for the racist attack that Diljit Dosanjh complained of facing in the country.
Australia’s assistant minister for multicultural affairs Julian Hill reacted to racist slurs targeting Diljit Dosanjh and said Australia has no place for racial discrimination. “Nobody should be discriminated against for who they are and I am sorry that Diljit has copped such rubbish from a tiny minority of idiots,” the minister told The Australia Today. “The positive and educative spirit in which Diljit Dosanjh has responded to some of the vile racist comments directed at him online is to be admired and respected, and it’s very clear who is the bigger person in this. I’m so glad Diljit is in Australia, and we welcome him,” the minister added. Diljit reached Australia for his ongoing tour and faced a racist attack. “When I landed in Australia, some agencies reported it. Someone sent me the comments section of one of those reports. People were saying things like ‘Uber driver aa gaya (The Uber driver is here)’, or ‘The new 7/11 employee has landed’…I don’t mind being compared to a cab or truck driver. If truck drivers cease to exist, you won’t get bread for your home. I’m not angry, and my love goes out to everyone,” Diljit said in a video.
After his November 1 performance at the AAMI Park in Melbourne, Diljit will perform in Adelaide at Adelaide Entertainment Centre Arena on November 5, followed by his show in Perth on November 9.
Khalistani group threatens to shut down Diljit’s November 1 show
Diljit’s Australia tour has already been mired in controversy as Sikh for Justice, a pro-Khalistan group, threatened to shut down his November 1 show, as Nov 1 is observed as Sikh Genocide Remembrance Day. SFJ is enraged with Diljit after the singer was seen touching the feet of Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, whom the SFJ accuses of “inciting mobs” in 1984.
Fans with kirpan denied entry at Sydney concert
In another controversy, fans carrying a kirpan were not allowed entry into Diljit’s Sydney concert on October 26. The concert was held at Parramatta Stadium in western Sydney.n