Close X
    Saturday, September 28, 2024
    ADVT 
    Bollywood

    I Stand By My Statement: Sonu Nigam Calls Azaan 'Forced Religiousness', Evoke Mixed Response

    Darpan News Desk IANS, 18 Apr, 2017 01:04 PM
    • I Stand By My Statement: Sonu Nigam Calls Azaan 'Forced Religiousness', Evoke Mixed Response
    Leading singer Sonu Nigam on Monday lashed out at "forced religiousness" in India after being woken up by the 'azaan' from a nearby mosque, triggering a torrent of reaction for and against.
     
    The "Kal ho naa ho" singer posted: "God bless everyone. I'm not a Muslim and I have to be woken up by the azaan in the morning. When will this forced religiousness end in India?" 
     
    Nigam explained his stance in a long Twitter post.
     
    "And by the way, (Prophet) Mohammed did not have electricity when he made Islam... Why do I have to have this cacophony after Edison? 
     
    "I don't believe in any temple or gurudwara using electricity To wake up people who don't follow the religion. Why then..? Honest? True? Gundagardi hai, bus."
     
    He tagged Maharastra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. 
     
    "Dear Fadnavis, please note and help us force police to act against illegal blaring of azaan and other such activities," the singer pleaded.
     
    As Nigam's views went viral, reactions poured in from all over India.
     
    Pakistan-born Canadian writer Tarek Fatah sided with the singer: "You are spot on Sonu Nigam. Thank god there is at least one person in India who has the courage to stare down mullah bullying. Shut the 4 a.m. azaan." 
     
    Not everyone felt the same way.
     
    Standup comedian Atul Khatri asked the Bollywood singer to find a new place if he was facing so much trouble. 
     
    "Hey Sonu Nigam, Shift to Ayodhya. I know a place there where there is no mosque," he tweeted. 
     
    Maharashtra Congress leader Naseem Khan said Nigam's comments were intended at communal polarisation and for cheap publicity. 
     
    Khan told IANS: "He (Nigam) is a lover of late night parties and then sleeps till late hours. The Bombay High Court has permitted loudspeakers' use from 6 a.m.to 10 p.m. So, his statement is baseless and aimed at creating divisions among communities." 
     
    Film editor Apurva Asrani expressed his opposition to all kinds of noise pollution.
     
    "(I) don't want to hear the azaan at dawn, nor do I want to hear a 'Chikni chameli' tuned Ganesh Aarti at dusk. Ban all loud-speakering of religion," he tweeted.
     
     
    Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri lent support to Nigam: "I am willing to sponsor a campaign against illegal blaring of azaan and other prayers on loudspeakers. Suggest a creative hashtag." 
    Prev Next

    MORE Bollywood ARTICLES

    Don't Want To Associate With Politics Ever: SRK

    Don't Want To Associate With Politics Ever: SRK
    Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who has played a bootlegger-turned-MLA in "Raees", says he would never associate with politics in his life.

    Don't Want To Associate With Politics Ever: SRK

    My Team Is My Backbone: Shraddha Kapoor

    My Team Is My Backbone: Shraddha Kapoor
    Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor says her team has been her backbone through her roller-coaster ride in the Hindi film industry.

    My Team Is My Backbone: Shraddha Kapoor

    Iulia Vantur To Be Showstopper At LFW

    Iulia Vantur To Be Showstopper At LFW
    The fashion brand will be showcasing their latest collection on the third day of the five-day fashion gala, which starts on Wednesday. 

    Iulia Vantur To Be Showstopper At LFW

    Brand Associations Are Like Marriages: Ranveer Singh

    Actor Ranveer Singh, roped in as brand ambassador for eyewear brand Carrera, finds a similarity between brand associations and marriages.

    Brand Associations Are Like Marriages: Ranveer Singh

    Jennifer Lopez 'Terrified' Drake Will Cheat On Her

    Singer-actress Jennifer Lopez is reportedly nervous her rumoured boyfriend Drake will cheat on her with strippers at the Super Bowl party.

    Jennifer Lopez 'Terrified' Drake Will Cheat On Her

    I Came To Mumbai To Be The Best Action Hero: Vidyut Jammwal

    Actor Vidyut Jammwal does one action film after another, not fearing being typecast. He says it's because he came to Mumbai aiming to be the best action hero, and he is only striving for that.

    I Came To Mumbai To Be The Best Action Hero: Vidyut Jammwal

    PrevNext