ASSEMBLY POLL '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS '98
ARCHIVES

Pak band Junoon overwhelmed by PM's passion

Savera R Someshwar in New Delhi

They are probably more popular in India than they are in Pakistan. But even they did not know that among their fans is the Prime Minister of India.

When Atal Bihari Vajpayee took the bus to Lahore, he was the protagonist of a moment in history. But, among other important things like signing the Lahore Declaration, the prime minister took time out to meet sensational Pakistani band Junoon (literally: a passion bordering on obsession) and invite them to India to participate in the first anniversary celebrations of his government.

Says Shehryar Ahmad, the group's manager and brother of guitarist Salman Ahmad, "It was, of course, an invitation we could not refuse."

What overwhelmed the group, though, was the generous hospitality extended by the prime minister. A specially chartered 12-seater private plane was sent to Lahore to pick up the pop band on March 18. "We had a very comfortable flight to India. After all, it is only 40 minutes from Lahore to Delhi," smiled Ahmad.

The hospitality did not end there. Junoon found a fleet of cars ("flashing lights and all") waiting for them on the airport tarmac, with the Delhi police at hand to ensure both privacy and security.

"Representatives of the I&B ministry were there to welcome us. It was a great feeling. We have always been popular in India, but to get official recognition like this was something else."

While the bigwigs involved with Satyameva Jayate, I&B Pramod Mahajan's celebratory cultural extravaganza to commemorate the BJP-led coalition's year in power, were put up at the government-run Hotel Ashoka, Junoon were booked at the Hyatt Regency.

They flew back to Lahore this evening in a private plane, again courtesy of the Indian government. In fact, Junoon were so thrilled with the arrangements that they did not charge their normal performance rates. "We have charged much less," says Ahmad. "After all, this was a rather momentous occasion for us -- being invited to participate in a government function in India."

Tell us what you think of this report