Bengaluru
oi-Madhuri Adnal
Singer Sonu Nigam has apologised to the people of Karnataka over his controversial remarks linked to the Pahalgam terror attack, just days before his scheduled concert in Bengaluru on October 24. The singer addressed the issue in a video message after pro-Kannada organisation Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) called on the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner to deny permission for the event.
In his message, Sonu said he was willing to apologise as many times as necessary to ensure that his relationship with Karnataka and its people remained intact.
Singer Sonu Nigam apologized to Karnataka residents for remarks linked to the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, prompted by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike’s request to deny permission for his October 24 Bengaluru concert.
“When you love someone and want the relationship to last, you don’t mind saying sorry a thousand times,” he said in Kannada at the beginning of the video.
The singer went on to address his fans in Karnataka, saying he had never intended to hurt them and was sorry if his words had caused any pain.
“So, my dear family, if anything I’ve said inadvertently has hurt you, I’m so sorry. You know I’m not the kind of person who would ever hurt anyone, especially my family from Karnataka,” he said.
Sonu also recalled the love and respect he had received from Karnataka over the past 30 years. He said he did not want a misunderstanding to affect the bond he had built with the people of the state over the years.
What Did Sonu Nigam Say About The Pahalgam Terror Attack?
The controversy dates back to April 2025, when Sonu performed at East Point College of Engineering and Technology in Bengaluru.
During the concert, a member of the audience repeatedly asked him to sing in Kannada. Sonu responded by speaking about his affection for Karnataka and its people, while objecting to what he described as an aggressive way of making the request.
His remarks later triggered criticism after they became linked to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025. The attack, which took place at Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, left 26 people dead after gunmen opened fire on tourists.
The comments did not go down well with sections of the Kannada-speaking community, and the issue continued to attract attention even after the concert.
Sonu is scheduled to perform in Bengaluru on October 24. However, the controversy has resurfaced ahead of the event, with Karnataka Rakshana Vedike asking the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner not to grant permission for the concert.
