Close X
    Thursday, October 3, 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

    Nothing Serious About 'Ok Jaanu': Aditya Roy Kapoor

    Nothing Serious About 'Ok Jaanu': Aditya Roy Kapoor
    Actor Aditya Kapoor says he is relaxed to play a "normal" man in "OK Jaanu" as there's nothing "serious" about the upcoming film.

    Nothing Serious About 'Ok Jaanu': Aditya Roy Kapoor

    Pratyusha Banerjee Suicide Case: Did Boyfriend Rahul Raj Forced Her Into Prostitution?

    Pratyusha Banerjee Suicide Case: Did Boyfriend Rahul Raj Forced Her Into Prostitution?
    The transcript of Pratyusha Banerjee's last conversation with boyfriend Rahul Raj Singh mentions her saying that she didn't come to Mumbai to sell herself.

    Pratyusha Banerjee Suicide Case: Did Boyfriend Rahul Raj Forced Her Into Prostitution?

    Rakhi Sawant Booked In Rajasthan For Wearing Dress With Modi's Pictures

    Rakhi Sawant Booked In Rajasthan For Wearing Dress With Modi's Pictures
      The First Information Report was lodged at a police station in Rajasthan's Rajsamand district, over 350 km from here. 

    Rakhi Sawant Booked In Rajasthan For Wearing Dress With Modi's Pictures

    Feel Proud, Honoured To Be Part Of Chinese Film 'Xuanzang': Sonu Sood

    Feel Proud, Honoured To Be Part Of Chinese Film 'Xuanzang': Sonu Sood
    Sonu Sood starrer Chinese film "Xuanzang" has been named China's official pick for the 89th Academy Awards and the Bollywood actor says he feels proud, honoured and blessed to be part of the film.

    Feel Proud, Honoured To Be Part Of Chinese Film 'Xuanzang': Sonu Sood

    My Wife Has No Problems With My Erotic Scenes: Gurmeet Choudhary

    My Wife Has No Problems With My Erotic Scenes: Gurmeet Choudhary
    Gurmeet Choudhary says his wife and television actress Debina Bonnerjee has no problem with his erotic love-making scenes in the forthcoming film "Wajah Tum Ho".

    My Wife Has No Problems With My Erotic Scenes: Gurmeet Choudhary

    Karan Johar's 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' Going Steady At Box Office

    Filmmaker Karan Johar's "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" (ADHM) has minted over Rs 150 crore since its release.

    Karan Johar's 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' Going Steady At Box Office

    PrevNext