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Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam clarifies after controversy in Bengaluru concert
He was alleged to have made disrespectful remarks about a South Indian state
- PUBLISHED: Sun 4 May 2025, 2:17 PM
- By:
- ANI
Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam took to Instagram to respond to the controversy surrounding his recent concert in Bengaluru. A complaint and a first information report–the first step for initiating investigation in India–were registered against him following allegations that he made disrespectful remarks against the Kannadiga community.
The incident took place at an engineering college on the outskirts of Bengaluru on April 25 and 26, and the singer is being probed for his alleged controversial remarks during the programme.
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According to reports, a young man allegedly insisted that Nigam sing in Kannada during the concert, resulting in a heated exchange.
Nigam explained a group of four to five individuals caused disturbance during his event by shouting and threatening him to sing in Kannada.
However, the singer clarified that while there were isolated disruptions, the majority of the audience was supportive and in fact, women in the crowd even intervened, calling out the troublemakers.
"It's important to stop people who provoke others because it becomes a bigger issue later. In a land of love, if someone is sowing the seeds of hatred, you have to stop them. We will have to cut this crop later," he said. "Kannadigas are beautiful people, so please don't generalise them."
An FIR was filed against Nigam on May 3, by Dharmaraj A, president of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, a pro-Kannada organisation.
The complaint alleges that Nigam's statements were "objectionable and emotionally provocative" and had hurt the sentiments of the Kannadiga community. It also claims that his remarks could incite division and potentially provoke violence among different linguistic communities in Karnataka.