Sonu Nigam faces police complaint from Kannada outfit for ‘inciting linguistic hatred’ at Bengaluru concert | Hindi Movie News

Sonu Nigam is facing backlash after his statements at a Bengaluru concert upset the Kannada community. In response, a pro-Kannada organization has filed a police complaint against the singer, alleging that his remarks incited hatred and hurt the feelings of their community.
Incident at College
The incident unfolded during Nigam’s performance at East Point College of Engineering and Technology in Virgonagar, Bengaluru, on April 25. Despite several requests from a fan to sing a Kannada song, Sonu declined, explaining that the fan was aggressively demanding it. He further remarked, “Yahi kaaran hai, Pahalgam mein jo hua hai na. Yahi kaaran hai jo kar rahe ho, jo kiya tha na abhi. Dekho toh kaun saamne khada hai.”
Sonu Nigam’s statement drew criticism not only from Kannadigas but also from netizens across India, who deemed it “uncalled for.” Social media users questioned his logic, with one writing, “How is Pahalgam incident related to asking kannada song in Bengaluru concert ?? Why is sonu nigam Linking 2 unrelated things.” Another X user tweeted, “If asking for a Kannada song at a Bengaluru concert is considered anti-national, then I have no problem being labeled as one.” However, there were also those who supported Sonu and praised him for standing up for himself.
Kannada Community Outraged
According to India Today, the Kannada-speaking community was outraged by Sonu’s comparison of a fan’s request for a Kannada song to a terrorist incident. In response, the Bengaluru district branch of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), a pro-Kannada group, filed a police complaint on Friday. They accused the singer of hurting Kannada sentiments, stirring animosity between linguistic groups in Karnataka, and potentially inciting violence in the region.
“This statement is not only insensitive, but also dangerous. By linking a simple cultural request to a terrorist incident, Sonu Nigam has portrayed Kannadigas as intolerant, inciting linguistic hatred and threatening communal harmony,” the complaint read.
The group has urged authorities to file an FIR against Sonu Nigam under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), citing charges such as promoting enmity on linguistic lines, criminal defamation, and hurting linguistic sentiments.
While Bengaluru Police have acknowledged receiving the complaint, no formal case has been registered yet. As of now, Sonu Nigam has not made any public statement regarding the allegations.