Sonu Nigam Charged For ‘Pahalgam’ Response To Kannada Song Demand

Bengaluru:

Singer Sonu Nigam’s recent remarks on the Pahalgam terror attack during a show in Bengaluru have landed him in trouble, with police in the city registering a first information report (FIR) on Saturday. The singer has also posted on social media, defending his comments and claiming that he was threatened.

During a musical event held on April 25-26 at East Point College of Engineering and Technology in Bengaluru’s Virgonagar, Mr Nigam was allegedly repeatedly asked to sing in Kannada by a young man, prompting an angry response. 

I have sung in different languages, including Kannada. Whenever I come to Karnataka, I come with a lot of love and respect. You all have treated me like family,” the singer said in Hindi.

“I always sing Kannada songs when requested. I have been singing in Kannada before that young man was born. But I didn’t like the way he shouted ‘Kannada, Kannada’. It is because of such behaviour that incidents like the Pahalgam attack happen,” he added.

The comments sparked outrage and condemnation, including from film producer Karthik Gowda and Kannada activist SR Govindu.

On Friday, the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, a pro-Kannada organisation, filed a complaint at the Avalahalli Police Station in Bengaluru alleging that Mr Nigam’s statements have hurt the sentiments of the Kannadiga community. 

“The statements have incited hatred among various linguistic communities in Karnataka, and are likely to provoke violence. A video of Shri Sonu Nigam’s statement has gone viral, causing widespread outrage among millions of Kannadigas across the state,” the complaint said.