Sunny Leone's new year event cancelled after threats from pro-Kannada group

Sunny is expected to participate in a New Year party event at Manyatha Tech Park on December 31 night

The Karnataka government on Friday decided not to permit Bollywood actress Sunny Leone's New Year Eve show here and elsewhere in the state following protests from Kannada outfits.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and some other organisations have been opposing the proposed event on December 31 alleging that the invitation to Sunny Leone will be an "assault" on the city's culture.

For the past one week, the KRV members have been agitating in the city, taking out rallies and burning effigies of Sunny Leone.

"I have instructed (authorities) not to allow such events. Don't bring her (Leone) here. People are opposed to the event. Let them (organisers) organise events related to Kannada culture and literature, which is our heritage," Karnataka Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy told PTI.

KRV office-bearer Harish welcomed the government decision.

"It is a victory for us. Government has cancelled the programme. Had it happened here, we would have brought activists from 20 districts to Bengaluru and held a mega protest here.

The protesters were urging her not to participate in the scheduled event. They have threatened that if she attended the event, then the party workers would commit suicide.

Jayadev Prasad, Secretary of KARAVE said: "We don't have any objections if she (Sunny) attends the programme with a saree as per Indian culture. If she attends the event, with a half dress or in any other ways we will commit suicide at the event."

"We have already purchased 70 tickets for the event. If she dances half-naked, we will protest more and then commit suicide to save our culture," added Prasad.

There have been similar protests against Sunny Leone, owing to her past as a former adult star, prior to joining Bollywood.