The incident happened at East Point College, where a fan booed loudly requesting Nigam to sing in Kannada. The artist, visibly agitated, stopped playing and spoke to the audience, stating, "This is why the Pahalgam attack occurred - for such a kind of attitude.
At least have a look at the person standing in front of you before making such demands".
Social media soon burst out, with most referring to Nigam's comparison as "bizarre" and "insensitive." His critics accused him of belittling a national tragedy and being too sensitive to a routine request at a concert.
Some wondered how a request for a Kannada number in Bengaluru could be connected with a terror attack in Kashmir, terming the statement as "hypocrisy" and "Hindi imposition.".
Some of his fans and commentators, however, jumped to Nigam's defence, citing his decades-long work as a contributor to Kannada music and his consistent expressions of regard for Karnataka and its people.
Nigam himself reiterated his love for the Kannada language, saying some of his finest songs are composed in Kannada and that he always sings with love and respect when he is in the state.
The incident has again sparked controversies on language, respect, and celebrity responsibility, and public opinion has been strongly divided with no sign of letting up on the row.