Why Bengaluru Can Jive to ‘Ghoomar’, But Can’t Party With Sunny

Is a ‘law & order situation’ the real reason why Karnataka government stopped a Sunny Leone event?

Sunny Leone was to perform in Bengaluru on 31 December.

(Photo: PTI)

When controversy surrounding ‘Padmavati’ was at its peak, Karnataka was among the few states that demanded action against fringe elements protesting to stop its release.

However, the state government's double standards have become apparent as it has denied permission for a New Year’s Eve programme featuring Bollywood actress Sunny Leone.

Much like those protesting against 'Padmavati', the organisation demanding a ban on Leone's event say it could hurt their cultural sentiments. The pro-Kannada group has less than 100 registered members.

While the authorities say permission was denied as it will not able to provide adequate police protection for the event, police sources claim the government doesn’t want to support the programme to protect its pro-Kannada image.

Stand by Deepika, But Not Sunny

When fringe organisation protesting against ‘Padmavati’ announced a reward for Deepkia Padukone’s head, Karnataka Chief Minister was among those who strongly spoke out in contempt. He asked the state police to provide police security to Deepika’s house in Bengaluru and wrote to the concerned chief ministers to ensure her protection.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah even tweeted against the agitations over the movie. Retweeting Karnataka Energy Minister DK Shivakumar’s tweet, Siddaramaiah commented, “I condemn the culture of intolerance & hate perpetuated by @BJP4India. Karnataka stands with @deepikapadukone.”

But when a similar situation evolved in Karnataka – with groups demanding a ban on an entertainment programme – the state’s Home Minister humored them, even referring to a photograph taken during Sunny Leone’s visit to Cochin to prove the point that her visit can lead to a crowd management and law & order problem.

The organisers of the event have now gone to the High Court asking for permission to go ahead with the programme.

How it All Began?

Protests against the planned event, 'Sunny Night in Bengaluru NYE 2018', began on 8 December, when a group of 30 odd men staged a protest near Mayura Circle in Central Bengaluru. The protest was organised by the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike Yuva Sene, a self-proclaimed off shoot of the pro-Kannada organisation, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike.

The first protest took place on 8 December. (Photo: PTI)

The protesters threatened that if the city police commissioner doesn’t accept their request for canceling the programme, they would take out ‘aggressive protests’. Their logic for opposing the programme was that Sunny Leone’s performance would be against the cultural values of the state (even though Leone has been a part of three Kannada movies).

A few days later, when members of the fringe group staged a protest in front of Manyata Tech Park in east Bengaluru and threatened of violence and massive suicides, the government decided to pull the plug on the event.

What Do Authorities Say?

On 15 December, Karnataka Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy announced that permission for the event has been rejected, fearing a law and order situation. The reasons cited were the fringe organisation’s threat of mass suicides, a potential crowd control problem like in Cochin, and the inability to deploy sufficient policemen as the force will be already stretched for New Year’s Eve security arrangements.

Many cases of molestation were reported during the course of New Year Eve celebrations in Bengaluru last year.(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@shamant18)

Bengaluru police then communicated verbally to the organisers that permission was denied.

The High Court had asked Bengaluru police to ensure adequate security is provided for the New Year’s Eve in city. This was following the controversy regarding molestation cases reported during last year New Year’s Eve. Police have come up with a plan and submitted it to the court as well. But with the Sunny programme threatening to be another law and order issue, redeploying the force would disturb the current security plan of the police. 

A senior Bengaluru police official

Bending the Knees Before an Organisation Seeking Fame

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, is most notorious fringe organisation in Karnataka and it has two factions — Praveen Shetty group and Narayana Gowda group. These groups of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike are known for violent protests and vandalism. However, neither of these groups is leading the protests against the Sunny Leone event. It is a new organisation desperate to enter the list of ‘pro-Kannada organisations’.

Pro-Kannada groups protesting in Bengaluru. Image used for representational purposes. (Photo: PTI)

According to police estimates, this new organisation, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike Yuva Sene, is not connected to either groups of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike. The strength of this new organisation, led by one Harish, is less than 50 members. They have not taken part in any such major violent protest in the past.

‘Sunny Leone Could Endanger Safety of Women’

When The Quint contacted Harish for the reasons behind his agitation, he said that a performance by Sunny Leone would result in “endangering the safety of women in Bengaluru”. When asked for an explanation, Harish couldn’t substantiate the claim logically.

Further, when questioned about why no such protests were taken out when Sunny Leone acted in three Kannada movies, he said: “We are not worried about what happened in the past, but about the programme, which is scheduled for 31 December.” He, however, didn’t share the same opinion about ‘past’, when asked about Sunny Leone’s new successful career as a Bollywood actress.

A Decision Reeking of Appeasement

“If the concern is law and order, additional forces can be deployed from other parts of the state or even central forces. The police department has dealt with bigger law and order issues than a New Year’s Eve. However, more than a policing matter, it is matter of politics. Government doesn’t want to upset any pro-Kannada organisation before the elections,” said another police officer, in know how of things.

As part of the election preparations, the government had projected a pro-Kannada image with a crusade against Hindi imposition and a demand for a state flag, etc. “Even though the larger pro-Kannada organisations have not joined this new group, the government certainly fears a backlash. If more organisations like the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike join the protests, it would affect the pro-Kannada image of the government,” a senior home department official added.