Bengaluru, October 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) has urged Bengaluru City Police to deny permission for singer Sonu Nigam’s scheduled concert on October 24, alleging that his remarks about Kannada linguistic sentiments and the Pahalgam terror attack had hurt the pride of the Kannada-speaking community.
In a representation submitted to the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, KRV State President T.A. Narayan Gowda demanded that permission for the event be refused or any approval already granted be revoked, citing the possibility of public resentment and law-and-order concerns.
According to the organisation, Nigam is scheduled to perform at Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru on Thanisandra Main Road at 7 p.m. on October 24 as part of his ‘The Revolution India Tour’. The concert is reportedly being organised by ITW Playworx.
The controversy dates back to April 2025, when Nigam allegedly made the remarks during a musical event at East Point College in Bengaluru. KRV claimed that when a student requested a Kannada song, the singer responded, “Kannada, Kannada, Kannada, this is why the incident (terror attack) happened in Pahalgam.”
The organisation argued that requesting a song in Kannada was not an offence and alleged that linking Kannadigas’ linguistic sentiments to a terror attack was objectionable and insulting to their self-respect.
KRV said Dharmaraj T.A., president of its Bengaluru urban district unit, had lodged a complaint against the singer at Avalahalli police station on May 2, 2025, seeking legal action. It also demanded an update on the complaint and a review of any statements that could create tensions between linguistic communities.
Warning that allowing the concert to proceed could intensify public resentment, Narayan Gowda said KRV would organise protests across Karnataka if permission was granted. He said the organisation was committed to protecting Kannada language, land, water and self-respect through democratic and legal means.
KRV has urged the police to assess the potential law-and-order implications, take preventive measures and communicate their decision on the representation in writing.
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