Sunny Leone’s upcoming performance in Bengaluru on New Year’s Eve has stoked controversy with a pro-Kannada group protesting on Friday, claiming that the actor doesn’t represent ‘Kannada culture’.

Activists of the Karave Yuva Sene, an off-shoot of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, demonstrated outside Manyata Tech Park with protestors wearing black ribbons, armed with brooms, burning posters featuring the actor.

“This is not Kannada culture. People from other cultures are spoiling Kannada culture. The program should not happen,” Harish, an office bearer of the outfit told TNM. “We know what kind of clothes she wears and what kind of movies she acts in.”

 “We have all seen what happened at MG Road and Brigade Road on December 31 last year. Bringing people like Sunny Leone to Bengaluru will only corrupt the minds of men and women, and lead them to behave inappropriately,” he said, adding, “Is it right to bring a woman, ask her to wear skimpy clothes and dance in order to make money? Are there no Kannada actors? They can ask women to wear sarees and dance gracefully.”

Some demonstrators said that they wouldn’t oppose Leone’s performance if she wears a saree.

The organiser of the event, also named Harish, meanwhile, said, “Being a Kannadiga myself, I have ensured the standard of the show is representative of Bengaluru’s culture … Even though, Sunny Leone got a lot of offers to dance on New Year’s Eve, she chose to come here, as Bengaluru and Hyderabad are her favourite places … This is a family programme and the culture of the state is not being disrespected.”

Other than protests in Bengaluru, the outfit said that they will organise protests in a total of 15 districts against the ‘Sunny Night in Bengaluru NYE 2018’ event.

This is not the first time that the pro-Kannada organisation has held protests against this event.

The first demonstration was held on December 7.

The event, organised by an advertising agency, is set to be held in White Orchid Hotel, on Outer Ring Road, opposite Manyata Tech Park.