Comedian Munawar Faruqui’s show has been canceled by Bengaluru Police due to threats from right-wing outfits. Since the news came out, there has been a debate on social media about it. Trinamool Congress national spokesperson Saket Gokhale has written, “This tactic by the BJP-RSS to deprive someone of their livelihood needs to be nipped in the bud. Munawar – as I’d told you – you’ll ALWAYS be welcome in West Bengal. Book as many shows as possible. The BJP-RSS won’t dare do their dirty tactics is what I can assure you.”
“Inki nafrat ka bahana ban gaya hoon. Hasa kar kitno ka sahara ban gaya hoon. Tootne pe inki Khwahish hogi puri Sahi kehte hai, mai Sitara ban gaya hoon (I have become an excuse for their hatred. By making people laugh, I have become a support for so many. Only when I break will their wish be fulfilled. What they say is right, I have become a star)”. Comedian Munawar Faruqui has signaled goodbye to comedy with these words after 12 shows were canceled in two months.
According to a news published on Bolta Uttar Pradesh, Munawar Faruqui’s show was to be held in Bangalore on November 28, but the police got the show canceled by writing a letter to the organizers. Police wrote to the Good Shepard Auditorium, Ashok Nagar, Bangalore, “It has come to know that Munawar Faruqui is a controversial figure, and he has made controversial statements on other religions and deities. Many states have banned his comedy shows. It is learned that a case has also been registered against him at Tukoganj police station in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.”
Also: ‘Have faith. Don’t give up’: Rahul Gandhi tweets in support of Comedian Munawar Faruqui
Police’s argument is very innocent. If someone’s livelihood can be stopped just by registering a case, then most of the leaders of the country will not be able to contest elections.
Well, the right-wing organization Hindu Janajagruti Samiti had put pressure on the police to cancel the show. If the Bangalore Police is not a victim of innocence, then they must be aware that the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti is known to spread Islamophobia in the country. This organization is highly communal and politically motivated. All the social media handles of this organization are proof of this. Apart from the BJP and its allies, this organization works to label all political parties as anti-Hindu.
After the show was canceled, Faruqui has written an emotional post, indicating that he may no longer perform on stage. Faruqui wrote, “Today the Bangalore show got canceled (due to threats of vandalism at the venue). We had sold over 600 tickets.”
He further wrote, “Putting me in jail for the joke I never did to cancelling my shows, which has nothing problematic in it. This is unfair. This show has gained so much love from people in India irrespective of their religion. This is injustice. We do have censor certificate of the show and it’s clearly nothing problematic in the show. We called off 12 shows in the last two months because of threats to venue and audience.”
Munawar Faruqui wrote in his post caption, “Hate won, artist lost. I’m Done! Goodbye.”
After this post of Faruqui, #MunawarFaruqui started trending on social media. Reactions were seen from different sections of the society. Indian National Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate wrote, “Munawar Faruqui Don’t give up, have faith. This country has always defeated hatred, we will defeat it again.”