Diljit Dosanjh's Bengaluru Concert Sparks Kannada Language Row, Woman Shares Harrowing Experience

Diljit Dosanjh performed in Bengaluru as part of his 'Dil-Luminati' tour, and as expected, many posts about the event, including a video featuring Deepika Padukone on stage, surfaced online.

An X user also shared their experience of attending the concert, but claimed to have had a troubling time, starting with a dispute over language, as reported by the Hindustan Times.

Photo Credit: https://x.com/diljitdosanjh

"I never thought I'd be saying this, after having lived here for so long, but BANGALORE WILL COLLAPSE soon because of this language issue. If you're going to say 'then learn', go ahead but READ ON. Yesterday's Diljit concert experience was pathetic," wrote X user Tanisha Sabherwal.

What happened at the concert?

Sabherwal explained that a woman pushed her during the concert, which she expected in such a large crowd. However, she wasn't prepared for what came next.

According to Sabherwal, when she asked the woman to move back, the woman responded with abusive language and insisted that Sabherwal speak in Kannada.

The situation escalated when a friend tried to intervene, and the woman twisted his arm. The woman then called the police, but since Sabherwal had recorded the incident, no charges were pressed.

"She left and came back with the police saying my friend was teasing her. And again, the police had to speak in Kannada, of course. We showed the video, which clearly contradicted her story, and you know what the police said? 'Delete it'. We showed it to others, and they supported us," she wrote, adding that after the police left, the woman began crying and "created a whole scene."

How did social media react?

The post sparked a discussion on the language issue on X.

"You were with the friend who had specs and face glitter? The guy from UP? Gold Pit?" asked an X user. Sabherwal confirmed, "Yes yes." The poster responded, "Oh, lmao, I saw it live."

Another user added, "Thanks for sharing but did people scream at Diljit to sing in Kannada!?" A third commenter said, "Similar experience with auto drivers in Bangalore. I had an extremely scary incident with one of my friends. Hope you and your friend are fine!!"

A fourth wrote, "The linguistic jingoism again. Any state that practices it will eventually go down the drain."

In Bengaluru, the language debate has sparked controversy as locals urge non-Kannada speakers to speak in Kannada. While proponents argue that learning the language promotes inclusivity and respect for local culture, critics see such demands as exclusionary, particularly in a cosmopolitan city like Bengaluru.