Sonu Nigam breaks silence on Bengaluru concert row, police summons: ‘Not a young lad to take humiliation’

Singer Sonu Nigam broke silence about a recent video of him during his Karnataka performance that got him in trouble. After allegedly refusing to perform in Kannada upon a fan’s request, he even brought up the Pahalgam attack, and received flak for it. He posted a clarification on Monday to explain what happened. (Also Read: Sonu Nigam schools fan who asked him to sing in Kannada at Bengaluru show: ‘Yahi kaaran hai Pahalgam mein jo hua’)

Sonu Nigam explains what happened at the Karnataka concert

Sonu wrote in his note that he has given ‘unprecedented love’ to language, culture, music and musicians of not just Karnataka but ‘anywhere in the world’. He also claimed that he ‘revered’ his Kannada songs more than even Hindi. Sonu stated that he has more than an hour of Kannada songs that he prepares whenever he is in Karnataka.

However, he claimed that a fan ‘humiliated’ him at the concert and was ‘threatened’ by someone his son’s age. He wrote, “I am not a young lad to take humiliation from anyone. I am 51 years old, in the second half of my life and am entitled to take offence for someone as young as my son threatening me directly in front of thousands in the name of language that too Kannada which is my second language when it comes to my work. That too after my first song of the concert! He provoked a few more. Their own people were embarrassed and were asking them to shut up.”

Sonu claimed that he told them ‘politely and lovingly’ that the concert has just begun and that he will not ‘let them down’. However, he says, they were ‘hell bent on creating ruckus’ and threatening him ‘wildly’. “Tell me who is at fault?” he questioned, adding, “Being a patriot that I am, I loathe anyone trying to create hate in the name of language, caste or religion especially after what transpired in Pahalgam.” He said ‘thousands of students and teachers cheered’ him when he schooled them and that eventually, he did perform Kannada songs.

Police issues notice to Sonu Nigam

After the incident, the Bengaluru District Police took cognisance of the FIR filed against him on May 3 for ‘making hurtful remarks about the Kannadiga community.’ They issued a notice to Sonu, asking him to appear before the investigation officer within a week, according to ANI.

Addressing it, Sonu ended the note with, “I leave it upto the sensible people of Karnataka to decide who is at fault here. I will accept your verdict gracefully. I fully respect and trust the law agencies and Police of Karnataka and will comply with whatever is expected from me. I have received divine love from Karnataka and will cherish it always with no malice whatsoever irrespective of your verdict.”

The complaint was lodged by Dharmaraj A, President of the Bengaluru City District Unit of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, a pro-Kannada group. The FIR includes charges under Sections 351(2), 352(1), and 353 of the Indian Penal Code. The complaint accuses Sonu Nigam of making ‘objectionable and emotionally provocative’ statements that have hurt the sentiments of the Kannadiga community and incited hatred among various linguistic communities in Karnataka.

The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) on Monday announced a 'non-cooperation' campaign against Sonu, according to PTI. KFCC president M Narasimhulu told reporters that the organisation would continue to refuse to cooperate with the singer until he tenders an unconditional apology to the people of Karnataka. "There will be non-cooperation with Sonu Nigam across Karnataka. It’s just like a ban. He should apologise to the people of Karnataka," Narasimhulu said.