Indian classical musician Shubhendra Rao accused state owned airline, Air India of breaking his sitar while he was travelling to New York for a concert. Shubhendra took to Facebook on Friday night in a lengthy to accuse the airline of mishandling his sitar and said the staff should be sensitised on how to handle the music instruments.

“There it happens again!!!! My Sitar has been vandalised once again, this time by our own #AirIndia!! Just arrived in New York to perform at the #VedicHeritageInc and this is how my Sitar has arrived. How can anyone be so ruthless and insensitive? For sure, this has been slit open because there is no way the sitar would break in this fashion. I know many people will come out in support and suggest many things but the simple truth is that airlines and their staff need to be sensitised towards how to handle music instruments.

“WHEN DOES THIS STOP??? How can any artist survive if airlines keep breaking their instruments whenever they travel? These days, no one asks me how I am after a journey. They always ask me how my instrument is!!

“I had started a petition on www.change.org about 2yrs ago, fighting for the right of artists like me who continue to suffer at the hands of these stupid airlines. Even got a lot of support but eventually, nothing happened since the powers-to-be continue to remain insensitive towards arts and artists. Minister for Civil Aviation #HardeepSinghPuri, Civil Aviation Secretary #PradeepSinghKarola, CMD of Air India #AshwaniLohani—Please note that #injustice has happened on our own national carrier and someone needs to take responsibility for this callousness and something drastic needs to be done so that we artists do not continue to suffer, be it at the hands of #AirIndia or any other airlines.