The man whose mere touch brings sarod to life sounds disheartened today. Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan can't hide his pain as he talks to us about the rejection of his visa application by the British High Commission.

This is the first time that UK has rejected your visa. Have they given any valid reason for that?
No. Now I really feel my visa has been rejected because my surname is Khan. I think it is an obvious case of Islamophobia. These people must realise that whatever a person's religion, an artiste just promotes love, harmony and peace through his art. The world is connected through music and we are trying to connect with the world through music. And these people are rejecting visas to us sitting in our own country. God knows what they would do to others.

Shah Rukh Khan was just detained at a US airport for hours.
In that case too, I think it is the Khan surname that's the reason behind such treatment. It's appalling. You also have a major concert in London coming up next month. I spoke to the Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and she has assured me that she will take up this issue. I am hopeful that I will get to perform as per schedule in London.

Is it time for India to rethink its visa policy, especially for the US and UK?
It is up to PM Narendra Modi to take up this issue because he is also a musician. I have heard him play drums on several occasions. Now, he has to take a stand for the artistes and musicians of our country.