ಪ್ರಗತಿವಾಹಿನಿ ಸುದ್ದಿ, ಬೆಳಗಾವಿ : ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಹಾಗೂ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವಹೇಳನಕಾರಿ ಹೇಳಿಕೆ ನೀಡಿದ ಖ್ಯಾತ ಗಾಯಕ ಸೋನು ನಿಗಮ್ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ರಾಜ್ಯದಾದ್ಯಂತ ವ್ಯಾಪಕ ಆಕ್ರೋಶ ವ್ಯಕ್ತವಾಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದು ಬೆಳಗಾವಿಯಲ್ಲೂ ಆಕ್ರೋಶ ಹೊರಹಾಕಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಈ ಹಿಂದೆ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಕಾಲೇಜೊಂದರ ಸಂಗೀತ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮವೊಂದರಲ್ಲಿ ಸೋನು ನಿಗಮ್ ಹಿಂದಿ ಹಾಡು ಹಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಆಗ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಯೊಬ್ಬ ಕನ್ನಡ ಕನ್ನಡ ಎಂದು ಪಟ್ಟುಹಿಡಿಯುವಂತೆ ಬೇಡಿಕೆ ಇಟ್ಟ. ಇದರಿಂದ ಸಿಟ್ಟಾದ ಸೋನು ನಿಗಮ್ ಪಹಲ್ಗಾಮ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದ ಘಟನೆಯ ಕಾರಣ ಇದೇ. ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮುಂದೆ ಯಾರು ನಿಂತಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎಂದು ನೋಡಿ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಬೆಳಗಾವಿ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗ ಫೇಸ್ ಬುಕ್ ಪೇಜ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಪೋಸ್ಟ್ ಹಾಕಿ ಆಕ್ರೋಶ ಹೊರ ಹಾಕಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಇಂತಹ ಗಾಯಕನನ್ನ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರು ಎಷ್ಟು ಸಹಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು. ಇಂತಹವನನ್ನ ಕರೆಯಿಸಿ ಹಾಡು ಹೇಳಿಸುವುದನ್ನ ಬಿಡಬೇಕು. ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಪೊಲೀಸರು ಗಾಯಕ ಮಾತನಾಡಿರುವ ವಿಡಿಯೋ ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸಿ ಕ್ರಮ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಿ. ಇಂತಹ ಗಾಯಕ ಕನ್ನಡ ಹಾಗೂ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ಮೇಲೆ ಅವಮಾನ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದು ತಪ್ಪು. ಕೂಡಲೇ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ಕ್ಷಮೆ ಕೇಳಬೇಕು. ಈ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಪೊಲೀಸರು ತನಿಖೆ ನಡೆಸಿ ಸೂಕ್ತ ಕ್ರಮವಹಿಸಬೇಕೆಂದು ಒತ್ತಾಯಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ.
ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ದೂರು ದಾಖಲು
Date: May 2, 2025
From:
Dharmaraj A.
Son of Anantayya
Bengaluru District President, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, No. 25
Praveen Building, 5th Main Road,
Gandhinagar, Bengaluru
To:
The Circle Inspector of Police
Avalahalli Police Station
Virgonagar Post, Avalahalli, Bidarahalli
Bengaluru – 49
Subject: Complaint against Shri Sonu Nigam for allegedly insulting Kannadigas and inciting hatred between linguistic groups
Respected Sir/Madam,
I, Dharmaraj A., President of the Bengaluru City District Unit of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, hereby submit the following complaint.
This complaint is lodged against the renowned singer Shri Sonu Nigam for making objectionable and emotionally provocative statements during a musical event held on April 25, 26, at East Point College of Engineering and Technology, Virgonagar, Bengaluru, which falls under your police station’s jurisdiction. His statements have deeply hurt the sentiments of the Kannadiga community, 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.
Details of the Incident:
On April 25, 26, during a musical event at East Point College, it is reported that a student requested Shri Sonu Nigam to sing a Kannada song. In response, Shri Nigam made an objectionable statement, saying, “Kannada, Kannada, Kannada, this is exactly why the incident happened in Pahalgam.” He referenced the terrorist attack that occurred in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, where 26 tourists were killed. By linking a simple request to sing a Kannada song to a terrorist act, Shri Nigam insulted the Kannadiga community and equated their cultural pride and linguistic identity with violence and intolerance.
These statements were recorded in a video that has gone viral on social media and has been reported by various news channels, leading to widespread anger among Kannadigas and raising concerns about potential attacks on Kannadigas in different parts of the country.
Shri Sonu Nigam’s statements are objectionable, divisive, and harmful to communal harmony. They violate the following sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023:
BNS Section 352(1) (Promoting enmity between groups):
This section penalizes acts that promote hatred and enmity between groups based on language, caste, or community. By linking a Kannadiga student’s request to a terrorist attack, Shri Nigam has promoted enmity between Kannadigas and other linguistic communities, which could lead to division in a peace-loving state like Karnataka.
As per BNS Section 352(1): “Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representations, promotes or attempts to promote, on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste, or community, feelings of enmity, hatred, or ill-will between different religious, racial, linguistic, or regional groups, shall be punished…”
BNS Section 351(2) (Criminal Defamation):
Shri Sonu Nigam’s statements defamed the Kannadiga community by linking their cultural and linguistic expressions to terrorism, thereby tarnishing the reputation of a peace-loving community. These statements were made publicly during the event with the intent to provoke and insult.
As per BNS Section 351(2): “Whoever makes or publishes any imputation concerning any person, intending to harm, or knowing that such imputation will harm, the reputation of such person, is said to defame that person…”
BNS Section 353 (Outraging religious or linguistic sentiments):
By mocking a request for a Kannada song and linking it to a terrorist attack, Shri Nigam’s statements outraged the linguistic sentiments of the Kannadiga community, which takes immense pride in its language and culture. This act has disrupted public harmony and insulted the dignity of Kannadigas.
As per BNS Section 353: “Whoever, intentionally or knowingly, by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representations, insults or attempts to insult the religious or other beliefs or feelings of any class of citizens of India, with the intention to outrage such feelings, shall be punished…”
Shri Sonu Nigam’s statements have caused severe distress to the Kannadiga community. By equating a simple cultural request to sing a Kannada song with a terrorist act, Shri Nigam has portrayed Kannadigas as intolerant or violent, which is contrary to their peace-loving and harmonious nature. His statement risks sparking linguistic unrest in Karnataka, a state known for its diversity. Coming from a public figure like Shri Sonu Nigam, who has a vast following, such statements create a negative perception of Kannadigas and foster division among communities, endangering communal harmony.
In this regard, I request that a complaint be registered against Shri Sonu Nigam under BNS Sections 352(1), 351(2), and 353 for promoting enmity, criminal defamation, and outraging linguistic sentiments, and that appropriate legal action be taken.
I urge you to thoroughly investigate this incident, collect video evidence from the event, and record statements from witnesses present at East Point College on April 30, 2025, to ensure justice for the Kannadiga community and prevent such divisive statements in the future.
I am ready to fully cooperate during the investigation and provide additional information if required. I kindly request that you take immediate action on this serious offense to safeguard the harmony and unity of our society.
Yours faithfully,
Dharmaraj A.
District President, Bengaluru District
Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Bengaluru.
