Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan on Friday expressed shock over the rejection of his UK visa.

"Shocked & appalled," he tweeted. "UK visa rejected."

Amjad Ali Khan said he was scheduled to perform at the Royal Festival Hall in London in September.

He said the rejection was "extremely sad for artists who are spreading the message of love and peace".

Amjad Ali Khan said he had been performing almost every year in the United Kingdom since the early 1970s. "Upset to have my visa rejected."

Amjad Ali Khan is an Indian classical musician who plays the sarod. Acclaimed internationally, he was honoured with Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour, in 2001.