Karnataka, India: 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 Bengaluru’s culture, reports the Hindustan Times.

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.’