Sonu Nigam faces heat in Dubai, boycott messages circulating on WhatsApp

MUMBAI: After Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam’s anti-Islamic rants last year, appeal to boycott his upcoming live concerts in Dubai is being circulated on the Facebook-owned instant messaging application.

The 44 year-old singer and actor is scheduled to take the stage on 12 January at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium performing a brand new show, Shukran Dubai 2018 – A Musical Journey of Immortal Melodies.

He is being opposed by Muslim for expressing his displeasure over azaan, a Muslim call to prayer calling it “forced religiousness” and “gundagardi”.

Shukran Dubai 2018 will be Nigam`s 16th Bollywood concert in Dubai.

The below message has been actively circulating on WhatsApp appealing to boycott his appearance in the live Music concert.

“Dear Muslim brothers and sisters, Indian Singer Sonu Nigam is performing live on 12 Jan, 2018 at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium and in Qatar on 19th Jan 2018 in Doha exhibition and convention centre. Boycott this event and spread the message to Muslims as he is anti Muslim & he hates Islam and Azaan. You all must be knowing, he has raised objection to Azaan (Islamic Call for Prayer) in India.. Hence let people know why we should boycott his programs. Flop his show with the help of social media. Share maximum to all Muslims, specially in UAE, Qatar & GCC Countries. (sic)”

The singer in April 2017 rocked the headlines for his comments on the use of loudspeakers for azaan (Muslim prayers) calling the act is nothing but a ‘Gundagardi’ after which a fatwa was also issued against him.

Nigam had said, “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. And by the way Mohammed did not have electricity when he made Islam.. Why do I have to have this cacophony after Edison?”

In his concluding tweets, the famous singer said the act was nothing but gundagardi.

“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…”