Talha Anjum adorns Indian flag at concert in Nepal | The Express Tribune

Talha Anjum has sparked widespread online controversy after he raised the Indian flag at a concert in Nepal. After receiving backlash, the rapper was unapologetic about it.

“My heart has no place for hate,” he took to social media and wrote. “Art has no borders. If me raising an Indian flag sparks controversy so be it. I’ll do it again. Will never care about the media, the war mongering governments and their propagandas. Urdu rap is and always will be borderless.”

The rapper has been on tour in Kathmandu in Nepal and videos of the concert quickly started to circulate the internet this weekend. Fans from both sides of the border were divided about this act.

Some called out Anjum for supporting India despite its public hostility towards Pakistan. “India is doing everything it can to spread terrorism in Pakistan,” wrote one X user. “They even killed innocent Pakistanis, while Talha Anjum is busy lifting and wearing an Indian flag. India even banned his YouTube. What else can you expect from an Imran Khan supporter?”

Another pointed out how unsupportive India has been in endorsing his music, “Talha Anjum waved the Indian flag at a concert in Nepal, despite the fact that his Spotify and probably his YouTube channel as well, are blocked in India. What a pathetic nation we are, no self-respect, no shame, no spine.” One user simply believed that Anjum lacked empathy. “Talha Anjum, can we discuss this after your home and town gets bombed by Indians like mine did?” they wrote.

However, the singer’s fans applauded his bold act too. “What Talha Anjum has done is commendable,” wrote one fan. “Even if he is done for views, he knows the repercussions that Pakistani ppl will hate for it still he did this.”Another stated that raising a certain flag is not a big deal. “No problem buddy;” the user penned. “Do what you want. Raising any country’s flag won’t make you anti-Pakistan. We will always support you.”

Despite the polarising opinions from both sides, the rapper gave the internet something to talk about. As one user put it, “Talha Anjum is getting dragged from left, right, and center and this is why I pay my internet bills.”

Last year in December, the rapper’s Indian debut was cancelled. The concert had stops in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and New Delhi and its cancellation was attributed to organisational and financial disputes.