Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Dec 15: The Karnataka government has denied permission to a New Year ’s Eve party called "Sunny Night in Bengaluru NYE 2018" in which Bollywood actress Sunny Leone was slated to perform.

The government's decision to cancel the event was announced by Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy and came after Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) took out a protest march in 12 districts of Karnataka, stating that Sunny Leone’s visit and performance will be an 'assault' on the city’s culture. Burning pictures of Leone, they warned to intensify the agitation and even threatened to commit "mass suicide" if the event was not cancelled.

"These organisers are bringing someone who acts in blue films to do a bar dance here, she doesn’t understand Kannada culture or history. Our youth and students will get spoilt if they see something like this," Harish, an office-bearer of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike Yuve Sena, was quoted saying to the media. "I don’t care what she wears at home, but we don’t want some nanga naach here," he said.

December 31, 2016, saw alleged mass molestations near MG road which still haunts Bengalureans. "What's the guarantee that if she performs here, the people who watch her will not do something wrong again? We must prevent such programmes where women may get into trouble later," Harish added.

The Times Creation Company in association with 93.5 red FM had organised Leone’s performance which was scheduled to be held at the White Orchid in Bengaluru. The company is hosting International DJ shows and Sunny Leone was scheduled to perform for the first time at an event in the city.

The organisers of the event denied reports of Sunny Leone participating in the event wearing inappropriate clothes and asserted that the programme has been organised keeping Bengaluru and Kannada culture in mind. Though Sunny had better offers to perform on New Year’s she chose Bengaluru and Hyderabad, they said.

However, this is not the first time that Sunny Leone is visiting Bengaluru for an event. In fact, Sunny has done a guest appearance in a Kannada film titled 'DK' in the song 'Sesamma'.