Kumar Sanu said that in Sa Re Ga Ma ?!?! I find that VERY hard to believe. If he did, ironical considering that almost every singer who takes part in SRGMP comes from a rigorous classical training background (well, maybe not in the current challenge, but I am talking till Challenge 2005)
Firstly, from seeing the videos, I don't think the contestants are receiving 'classical' training. I think they are receiving a more formal training in music in the sense that they have a music teacher who is going to polish their singing. By that, I guess helping them to add the grace to their singing, if they have never really learnt music, give them an idea of what sur and taal exactly are etc etc.
Secondly, Classical music is the basis of most music today. I respect your opinion as you are totally welcome to ahve one, but to say that training is bad, you are claiming that singers like Karunya, Amit Sana, Prajakta Shukre, Rahul Saxena, Ameya Date are bad.. as they are all classically trained.
Thirdly, learning Classical music helps you sing a lot of sings with ease, not necessarily classical songs. Its sad that Vanita got out, but her previous performance, Ishq Kabhi Kariyo na, is a far cry from the usual classical songs, but Vanita is trained in classical music for 15 years.
Saying this, just because one is trained in classical singing, doesn't make them win teh competition. At the end of the day its about votes and what the janta think. If they think that classically trained singers are bad, we have to sadly accept it !