Indian singer Mika Singh has questioned why many people in India view Pakistani Muslims negatively while welcoming Muslims from Dubai.
The 50-year-old appeared on the Baatein Dil Se With Navika Kumar podcast while he spoke about his 2019 visit to Pakistan.
Mika said that Pakistan and its people are not bad, recalling the warmth he received on the trip and described how Muslims looked after Sikh holy sites there.
“When I went to Pakistan, many Muslims who are our brothers served at the gurdwaras and helped with the cleaning,” he stated.
He then spoke about Guru Nanak Dev and how different communities view his legacy. Mika went on to share his view of Pakistan.
“Pakistan isn’t bad. The people of Pakistan aren’t bad at all. I just don’t know why, but for some reason, we seem to dislike Muslims from Pakistan. But we really like Muslims from Dubai. I have never understood that,” he pointed out.
The host asked about his views on Pakistan after the conversation turned to Diljit Dosanjh and his work with Pakistani artistes. Mika said he has no problem with Pakistani singers performing in India. He also defended Indian artistes who perform in Pakistan and said people should not necessarily criticise them for it.
“I have no problem with Pakistani singers. When they come here, everyone stands up for them. Bollywood welcomes every Pakistani singer,” he observed.
Mika drew a line between performing privately in Pakistan and promoting the trip in public.
“If you go there for a private function, perform, take your money and come back to India, that is different. You are not hiding when you go there. You are travelling by flight and the whole world can see it,” he said.
He explained that Sikh holy sites give Pakistan a deep personal meaning for him.
“Nankana Sahib and Panja Sahib are there. There are three very important gurdwaras in Pakistan,” he said.
Mika said he felt “called” to Pakistan when an invitation to perform arrived. He said money was not his motive: “For me, it is not about money. The first thought is that I can reach the gurdwara through this.”
He added that he travelled to Pakistan before the Uri attack and went openly on a visa. He argued that a performance there should not automatically count as a political act. He also said he feels happy when Pakistanis respect Indian artistes.
“If Pakistanis are giving me respect, we should be happy about it. At least there is someone who is going there and performing,” he remarked.
Mika faced a ban from the Indian film industry in 2019 after he performed at a pre-wedding event in Karachi on August 8 that year.
A video of the performance appeared online and triggered backlash. Indian film bodies accused him of putting money before national interest while relations between India and Pakistan stayed tense.
The All India Cine Workers Association and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) announced a boycott and barred him from work in the industry.
Mika said that he had committed to the event well before the political developments. He said his presence in Pakistan at that time was a coincidence.
On August 21, 2019, he apologised at a press conference with FWICE officials and promised not to repeat the mistake.
FWICE then lifted the ban and let him resume work.
