Coldplay concert tickets sell out, Akhilesh Yadav raises alarm over 'fake ticket racket'

After Coldplay tickets sold out within minutes, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed his concern over the alleged black marketing of concert tickets, which he claimed are being sold for "20-50 times the price". He pointed out that as soon as the tickets become available, they are quickly sold out, only to be resold on the black market at exorbitant prices, sometimes 20 to 50 times their original value.Yadav questioned the government's ability to curb such illegal practices and fake ticket rackets.
"As soon as the booking opens, all the tickets get booked within a short time and then the news of those tickets being sold in black for lakhs, at 20-50 times the price, is a challenge at the level of governance and administration. Is there no such thing as a government in the country that can stop such illegal sales and fake ticket racket," he said in post on X.

Akhilesh said that every individual should have equal rights to entertainment and said that if art is limited to "purchasing power of a few people" then it becomes a business.
He argued that this not only violates the rights of the artists but also results in a loss of tax revenue for the government. The SP chief also talked about the importance of equal access to entertainment for all, saying, "The truth is that everyone should have equal rights to entertainment."
On Sunday, the BookMyShow website and app crashed as ticket sales opened for Coldplay's concerts scheduled for next year. The band will perform three shows on January 18, 19, and 21, 2025, at the DY Patil Sports Stadium. Fans flooded social media with screenshots of their unresponsive devices.
"It is not possible for a rich person to always be an expert, connoisseur or a true enjoyer of art. In such a situation, artists do not get true respect nor does their art get proper appreciation," Akhilesh said in a post on X.
This isn't the first time Akhilesh has referenced Coldplay in his criticism of the government. in 2016, he claimed the government keeps repeating the same tune with its budget, adding that he would rather listen to the British pop band’s "Hymn for the Weekend."