"I've neither written nor sung those offensive songs" - Honey Singh

Bhangra-pop singer-rapper Honey Singh claims he is a victim of a vicious smear campaign launched by his rivals to finish off his rising career as India's foremost live entertainer.

Shaken and nonplussed, Honey didn't know what hit him when, on Monday hours before the New Year was ushered in with telling somberness, he was targeted viciously for his allegedly anti-woman misogynist songs, specially a number offensively titled 'Main Hoon Ek Balaatkari'.

The song's title and "message" have rightly offended a nation reeling under the impact of the heinous gang rape in Delhi that took the victim's life last week. A virulent campaign to boycott Honey Singh and his music was launched on several micro-blogging sites. An FIR was also lodged against Honey for obscenity in Lucknow. To top it all, on New Year's Eve Honey's proposed concert in Gurgaon had to be cancelled due to pressures from the outside.

Fearing for his life, in a startling revelation made exclusively to this writer, Honey Singh claims the offensive song is not his at all. "I swear on my music, I've neither written nor sung those offensive songs. I'd never dream of singing a song in praise of rape. The thought is nauseating to me. I'd rather give up singing than attain popularity in such cheap and cheesy ways."

Honey says the song has been released on the internet by an imposter. "I've sent notices to Youtube and other websites which have uploaded the offensive number. I am shocked that such a song could even be believed to be mine. I come from a family where women are respected. And I'd never disrespect women by espousing rape."

Honey also claims that the other obscene song entitled 'Ch..t' which has been floating on the internet for years under his name is not his. "I completely disown both these obscene numbers. I've nothing to do with them. My lawyers are trying to find out who's doing this to malign me. I'm being targeted for a rape of another kind altogether. What is being done to me is among the lowest of violation of human dignity."

Honey says the smear campaign is being undertaken by jealous rivals. "They can't bear to see a villager from Hoshiarpur like me become so successful. My fans know the truth. I'd never disrespect women. I have been brought up to treat women with courtesy and dignity."