MUMBAI: An upset Sonu Nigam, who along with co-judges Anu Malik and Farah Khan staged a walkout from Indian Idol after prized contestant Ameya Date was eliminated, says their move was a warning against disqualifying good talent.

Sonu explains, “Very honestly, as a judge on Indian Idol I can’t afford to be particularly fond of anyone. But Ameya has a great future. He got eliminated because he didn’t sing well enough on Tuesday. I don’t regret walking out after Ameya’s elimination. We had to ring a warning bell in the audience’s minds... I apologised to Anuj. But they cannot disqualify good talent like this...”

Ameya himself refuses to see the defeat as anything but a challenge. “As far as Indian Idol is concerned I’ve come as far as destiny had to bring me. That Sonuji, Anuji and Farahji protested on my behalf moved me deeply. I want to apologise for not having lived up to their expectations. But I feel happy to have got as far as I have.”