Singer Sonu Nigam is at the centre of controversy following remarks made during a concert in Bengaluru that allegedly offended the sentiments of the Kannada-speaking community. The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), a prominent pro-Kannada group, has formally filed a police complaint against the artist.
The incident occurred during a two-day music festival at East Point College of Engineering and Technology on April 25-26. According to the complaint, when a student requested Nigam to perform a Kannada song, he allegedly responded by saying, “Kannada, Kannada, Kannada, this is exactly why the Pahalgam incident happened,” referring to the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir where 26 tourists lost their lives.
Dharmaraj A., the president of KRV’s Bengaluru district unit, lodged the complaint. He argued that the comment equated a cultural expression with extremism, painting Kannadigas in a negative light. A video clip of the statement has gone viral online, triggering widespread anger across Karnataka and raising concerns about potential linguistic tensions.
The complaint accuses Nigam of delivering divisive comments that could disrupt social harmony. Citing sections 352(1), 351(2), and 353 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the KRV has called for criminal proceedings against the singer.
The organization demands an apology and thorough investigation, including review of event footage and eyewitness accounts. Kannada film personalities and local communities have joined in expressing their outrage on social media, urging immediate redressal.
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