PHOTO: FILE
While some condemned Sonu's statement as a mere publicity stunt, others supported it whole-heartedly.
However, in a recent turn of events, famous Bollywood actor-turned-producer, Pooja Bhatt has given her two cents on the matter. She posted on Twitter, "I wake each morning to the sound of church bells & the Azaan in a quiet by-lane of Bandra. I light an aggarbatti & salute the spirit of India."
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I wake each morning to the sound of church bells & the Azaan in a quiet by-lane of Bandra.I light an aggarbatti & salute the spirit of India
— Pooja Bhatt (@PoojaB1972) April 18, 2017
Sonu 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?"
https://twitter.com/sonunigam/status/853758848133242880
Nigam explained his stance in a long Twitter post.
"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."
https://twitter.com/sonunigam/status/853761583666806784
https://twitter.com/sonunigam/status/853764889671720960
He tagged Maharastra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis saying, "Dear Fadnavis, please note and help us force police to act against illegal blaring of azaan and other such activities," the singer pleaded.
On the other hand Maharashtra Congress leader Naseem Khan said Nigam's comments were intended at communal polarisation and for cheap publicity.
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"Hey Sonu Nigam, Shift to Ayodhya. I know a place there where there is no mosque," he tweeted.
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."
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