Leave it to sensible people of Karnataka to decide who is at fault: Sonu Nigam

Popular playback singer Sonu Nigam in a statement on Monday reiterated his love for the Kannada people but felt compelled to confront the young men who allegedly “threatened” him during a live concert in Bengaluru over language issues.

Nigam's statement, shared across his social media accounts, comes after the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) announced a ‘non-cooperation’ campaign against the singer for his allegedly controversial remark which hurt the sentiments of Kannadigas during the recent concert in Bengaluru.

An FIR was also registered at the Avalahalli police station in Bengaluru on 3 May against Nigam for reportedly retorting, “Kannada. Kannada. This is the reason behind the incident in Pahalgam,” in response to an audience member’s request to sing in Kannada at last month's concert in the city, referring to the deadly terror attack in the popular south Kashmir resort on 22 April which saw 26 Indians, mostly tourists, lose their lives, including two from Karnataka.

In his statement, the singer said he would cooperate with the police authorities of Karnataka in the matter and always “cherish the love” he has received from the people of the state irrespective of the verdict. He did now, however, offer any explanation as to why he had chosen to link the heckling by an audience member with the deaths of 26 innocent civilians.

The issue of language has long been a controversial one in Karnataka, with several organisations insisting that 'outsiders' who live and work in the state must speak Kannada.

“I leave it up to 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,” Nigam wrote.

Regardless of the love he has received from the people of Karnataka, the playback singer said he was not some “young lad” who would 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 right after my first song of the concert! He provoked a few more. Their own people were embarrassed and were asking them to shut up..”

“I told them very politely and lovingly the show has just started, it’s my first song and that I will not let them down, but they have to let me continue with the concert the way I have planned. Every artiste has a song list prepared so the musicians and technicians are in sync. But they were hell bent on creating ruckus and threatening me wildly. Tell me who is at fault?” he asked.

As a patriot, Nigam said, he loathes anyone trying to create hate in the name of “language, caste or religion”, especially after the terror attack in Pahalgam.

“I had to school them, and I did, and thousands of students and teachers cheered me for it. The matter got over and I sang Kannada for more than an hour. It’s all there on social media,” he added.

On Saturday, Nigam shared a video on Instagram in which he defended himself after an FIR was filed against him for allegedly offending the sentiments of Kannadigas during the concert.

In the clip, the singer said he was “threatened” by a small group of boys to sing in Kannada at the event. He, however, also urged people “not to generalise” or hold the entire community responsible for the actions of a few.

The incident occurred during a live concert on 25 April at a college in Bengaluru. Nigam paused his performance when someone from the audience loudly demanded that he sing in Kannada. Frustrated by the repeated shouts of “Kannada, Kannada,” the singer responded sharply from the stage.

In a video that went viral on social media, Nigam is also heard saying that some of the best songs of his career are in Kannada and that Karnataka has always treated him like family, but he was irked at the way the demand was made.

With PTI inputs