What began as a security-related denial of Diljit Dosanjh Delhi concert quickly turned political, with AAP questioning the move. Permission was subsequently granted after organisers committed to stricter private security, traffic and crowd-management arrangements.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, October 23, 2026: Delhi Police has granted permission for Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh concert at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on October 30, a day after initially refusing clearance.
The approval came after organisers agreed to several conditions related to private security personnel, crowd management, traffic, and other security arrangements.Earlier, the Delhi Police denied Daljit Dosanjh permission citing specific threat-related inputs, along with the police’s security and law-and-order commitments during the ongoing festive season.
The initial denial of permission for Dosanjh concert sparked political criticism, with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj questioning the Delhi Police’s decision and alleging a possible bias against progressive voices from Punjab.
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AAP rallies around Dosanjh
Bharadwaj asked why the Central government’s Delhi Police had denied clearance, pointing to Dosanjh popularity among young audiences and his cultural significance in Punjab. “Why is Central Govt’s Delhi Police denying permission for concert of Diljit Dosanjh? Is it a deep rooted bias against progressive voices of Punjab? Indian Youth loves @diljitdosanjh and he is much loved in Punjab,” he wrote on X.
In subsequent remarks, he compared the decision with other cases involving Punjab artists and accused authorities of being more accommodating toward certain religious figures than toward artists he said promote a message of love.
After the grant of permission to Dosanjh to host the show, BookMyShow Live, the ticketing partner for the show, said it held a cordial and constructive meeting with Delhi Police and presented a detailed plan addressing the required arrangements. “We have assured the authorities of full compliance with all applicable security, traffic and crowd-management requirements,” the company said in a statement. It added that it would continue working with the police and other authorities to ensure a safe experience for concertgoers while minimising inconvenience to local residents and commuters.
After Delhi, the tour is scheduled to continue in Indore (November 15), Ahmedabad (November 21), Mumbai (November 27), Bengaluru (November 29) and Lucknow (December 5). A concert in Chandigarh has also been announced, though the date and other details are yet to be confirmed.
