Close X
    Wednesday, October 2, 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

    Koffee With Karan Season 5: Did Salman Khan Ditch Katrina Kaif?

    Koffee With Karan Season 5: Did Salman Khan Ditch Katrina Kaif?
    Katrina Kaif will not accompany Salman Khan on the sets of Koffee With Karan. Find out who will.

    Koffee With Karan Season 5: Did Salman Khan Ditch Katrina Kaif?

    Iulia Vantur Talks About Her Stay With Salman Khan In India And What She Had To Sacrifice

    Iulia Vantur Talks About Her Stay With Salman Khan In India And What She Had To Sacrifice
    Iulia is back in Romania and buzz says the two have gone their separate ways. In a recent interview to a Romanian magazine, Iulia may have given a clue to what went wrong between them.

    Iulia Vantur Talks About Her Stay With Salman Khan In India And What She Had To Sacrifice

    CONFIRMED: Sridevi's Daughter Jhanvi To Debut In Karan Johar Film

    After months and months of wondering who will launch Sridevi’s gorgeous daughter Jhanvi, father Boney Kapoor has confirmed the development to DNA. “Yes, Karan has been talking to us about a film for Jhanvi and we’ve given consent. 

    CONFIRMED: Sridevi's Daughter Jhanvi To Debut In Karan Johar Film

    Leh Engineer Who Inspired '3 Idiots' Movie Bags Global Award

    Leh Engineer Who Inspired '3 Idiots' Movie Bags Global Award
    Sonam Wangchuk, a 50-year-old Ladakhi engineer, has been attempting to solve the problem of lack of water for agriculture in the desert landscapes of the western Himalayas by building “Ice Stupas”.

    Leh Engineer Who Inspired '3 Idiots' Movie Bags Global Award

    Accountability Should Be Fixed For Chaotic Situation: Shatrughan Sinha

    Accountability Should Be Fixed For Chaotic Situation: Shatrughan Sinha
    BJP lawmaker Shatrughan Sinha today termed the situation following demonetisation as "chaotic" and demanded that accountability should be fixed as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been let down by his team members.

    Accountability Should Be Fixed For Chaotic Situation: Shatrughan Sinha

    Don't Need To Justify Why I'm Not In Top Five: Neha Dhupia

    Don't Need To Justify Why I'm Not In Top Five: Neha Dhupia
    Actress Neha Dhupia's film career might not have gone the way she had imagined it would, but she says she is happier and in a better position than anybody else.

    Don't Need To Justify Why I'm Not In Top Five: Neha Dhupia

    PrevNext