In his complaint, KRV president Dharamaraj Ananthayya stated that Nigam’s remarks had deeply hurt the sentiments of the Kannadiga community and were not only creating hatred between different linguistic groups in Karnataka but also inciting violence.
“By linking the request for a Kannada song to a terrorist act, Nigam has not only insulted Kannadigas but also likened their cultural pride and linguistic identity to violence and intolerance,” said Ananthayya.
According to him, the video of the incident, which has gone viral on social media and has been reported on various news channels, has not only caused intense anger among Kannadigas but also raised fears of attacks on Kannadigas in other parts of the country.
In the video, 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 by how the demand was made. “It felt disrespectful when a young boy, who isn’t even as old as my career, shouted at me rudely. That’s not how you talk to anyone, especially a guest,” he added.