Delhi Police has denied permission to stand-up comedian Munawwar Farooqui to perform his scheduled show in the national capital on August 28. The licensing unit of Delhi Police denied permission after the local Central District Police wrote a report stating that “the show will affect communal harmony in the area.”
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) had written to Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora on August 25, demanding cancellation of Farooqui’s show. The VHP in its letter alleged that “communal tensions were created in Bhagyanagar due to Munavvar’s jokes on Hindu deities”. VHP’s letter further states that if the show is not cancelled, members of VHP and Bajrang Dal will protest.
Last Saturday, Munawwar Farooqui hosted a standup comedy show in Hyderabad amid tight security. Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar called for a boycott of the show, alleging that Farooqui made fun of Hindu gods.
Earlier this week, suspended BJP MLA from Telangana T Raja Singh was arrested by the state police for his remarks on the Prophet in a video posted on social media. Singh said that his video was in response to a show organized by Farooqui in Hyderabad. Protests erupted in Telangana after Singh’s alleged remarks on the Prophet. He was earlier arrested on Tuesday and released following a court order. The MLA from Goshamahal constituency was arrested for the second time on 25 August.
Earlier, Farooqui’s show in Bengaluru was canceled for the second time by the city police, who said that the organizers had not taken prior permission to hold the event. Earlier this year in May, Farooqui participated in the reality show ‘Lock-Up’ hosted by Kangana Ranaut and won the winner’s trophy after garnering over 18 lakh votes.
On January 1 this year, the Madhya Pradesh police arrested Farooqui and four others, following a complaint by BJP MLA Malini Laxman Singh Gaur’s son Eklavya Singh Gaur that there were objectionable references to Hindu deities as well as Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Comment was made. Comedy show at a cafe in Indore on New Year’s Eve. He was later released on bail.
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