Odisha min showers money on qawwali singer, courts controversy

Sundargarh:  In a brazen display of  self-indulgent behaviour, Odisha Labour Minister and Rourkela MLA Sharada Nayak landed in controversy after a video of him showering money on a qawwali singer in Sundargarh district went viral on social media.

The BJD legislator was attending a qawwali programme in the vicinity of Hotel JDR in Sundargarh when the incident took place.

As per reports, Rais Anis Sabri,  one of India's youngest performing Sufiana Qawwals hailing from Najibabad (Uttar Pradesh) was performing at the event organised by the Muslim Youth Committee. He was performing on his famous ghazal "Saap Dase to Dost Bachaye" when the audience went into a rapture and started deluging the singer with money. Swayed by the performance, the Minister too could not refrain himself and started showering money on Sabri. In viral footages, Nayak along with other people was seen flinging currency notes of Rs 500, Rs 200, Rs 100, Rs 10 and Rs 20 denominations on the singer.

While the incident has ruffled many feathers, there has been no clarification from the Minister's end till reports last came in.