When Sonu Nigam had debuted in the industry of playback singing, the media had put him high up on a pedestal. Over the years, the singer produced many hit numbers and earned a name for himself. But something went wrong down the years --- media reports often taunted him and showed him in poor light.

All this, Sonu now reveals, is a plot by senior journalist Subhash K. Jha. Reason: the singer had apparently snubbed Jha when the latter had made sexual advancements towards him. Jha had praised Sonu's singing abilities and acting prowess in film Love in Nepal, but had later become a bitter critic of the singer.

Sometime back an article in the media said that Sonu had threatened the journalist. The singer admitted the move saying that he had asked Jha to keep away and not attempt to meet him if he comes to Mumbai.

Sonu says he still has messages from Jha that read "I miss you and Love you Sonu" and "I am sorry" stored on his various cell phones. The singer had recently written an open letter to Jha to highlight his dilemma.

It says: "Homosexuals are normal people with just different sexual preferences, just like a man lusting for women is not a taboo. But a man punishing a woman for not complying with his sexual advancement is an issue, right?

So why isn't a man imposing upon another man an issue? Isn't this a free world? Am I supposed to reciprocate something that I am not interested in? And do I have to be subjected to this kind of DADAGIRI for no fault of mine? Is my not being a homosexual so punishable an offence?"

The father-to-be is further worried about the impact the negative articles in the media has on his family. Well, guess it's high time that Mr Jha write an open letter too to clear his stand. -Jayant Mishra