DEHRADUN: A public performance by Haryana-based singer Masoom Sharma at an event in DAV (PG) College in Dehradun on Saturday evening, sparked a controversy after the singer started using “abusive language” during his performance. Notably, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami was the chief guest on the occasion, although he had left the venue when the incident is alleged to have happened. Independent MLA from Khanpur (Haridwar) was present on stage and is said to have tried to restrain the singer, but to no avail. A complaint regarding the singer’s “objectionable action on stage” was lodged by Dehradun-based lawyer, Sandeep Chamoli, at the city’s Dalanwala police station on Sunday, in which he urged cops to take stern action against Sharma for “hurting sentiments of people”. Several people also assembled at the college gate in protest. An FIR was yet to be registered in the matter, till late Sunday evening. Meanwhile, amid the row, the singer, posted a ‘video apology’ on social media on Sunday, offering an explanation for his conduct. He said he used expletives on impulse after being overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response of the young crowd, and then added that he had also been under significant personal distress for past few days. He claimed that a Haryana-based gangster had followed him to Dehradun and threatened to kill him, and that had affected his behavior on stage. “I want to apologize to the people of Devbhoomi for hurting them with my act,” Sharma could be heard saying in the purported clip. Dehradun SP (city) Pramod Kumar said, “We have taken note of the incident and all the widely circulated videos related to it.”