The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, formally urged the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner to deny permission for singer Sonu Nigam's upcoming concert in the city, citing remarks he allegedly made in April 2025 that compared Kannadigas' linguistic sentiments to the Pahalgam terror attack. The pro-Kannada organisation warned of large-scale protests across Karnataka if the event was allowed to proceed.

The Scheduled Concert

Sonu Nigam is set to perform at the Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru on Thanisandra Main Road at 7 pm on 24 October as part of his 'The Revolution India Tour'. The event is reportedly being organised by ITW Playworx. In its representation to the Police Commissioner, KRV State President T.A. Narayan Gowda demanded that the police either refuse permission outright or revoke any approval already granted, citing potential public resentment and law-and-order concerns.

The Controversy Behind the Demand

The dispute traces back to an alleged incident in April 2025, when Sonu Nigam was performing at East Point College in Bengaluru. According to KRV, when a student in the audience requested a Kannada song, the singer reportedly responded: 'Kannada, Kannada, Kannada, this is why the incident (terror attack) happened in Pahalgam.' The organisation described the remark as objectionable, irresponsible, and an insult to the self-respect of Kannada speakers, arguing that requesting a song in one's mother tongue is not an offence.

Notably, this is not the first time the matter has been taken up with authorities. Dharmaraj T.A., president of KRV's Bengaluru urban district unit, had lodged a formal complaint at Avalahalli police station on 2 May 2025, seeking legal action over the remarks. KRV contends that the grievance has remained unaddressed.

KRV's Demands and Warning

Beyond blocking the concert, KRV has urged the police to review the status of its earlier complaint and to examine whether Sonu Nigam's alleged statements could inflame tensions between linguistic communities. Narayan Gowda stated that the organisation remained committed to protecting the Kannada language, land, water, and self-respect through democratic and legal means.

The KRV president made clear that if permission was granted, the organisation would be 'compelled to organise protests across Karnataka,' adding that responsibility for any escalation would rest with authorities who proceeded despite the objections. The organisation has sought a written response from the police on the action taken.

Wider Context

The episode reflects the longstanding sensitivity around linguistic identity in Karnataka, where pro-Kannada groups have historically mobilised around perceived slights to the language. This comes amid a broader national pattern of cultural organisations pressing law-enforcement agencies to intervene in public events on grounds of sentiment and public order. Whether the Bengaluru City Police will act on the representation — or defer to the event organisers — is expected to become clear in the days leading up to 24 October.