Bengaluru: Standup comedian Munawar Faruqui’s show, scheduled in Bengaluru on Sunday evening, has been cancelled at the eleventh hour.
The reason? Police termed him a ‘controversial figure’ and asked the organizers to call off the programme citing law and order issues.
Faruqui was supposed to perform at Good Shepherd Auditorium at 5 pm with his show titled ‘Dongri to Nowhere’.
The Indian Express quoted organizer Siddharth Dash as saying that police had denied permission to hold the programme. The organizers had also received threats.
“Nafrat jeet gayi, artist haar gaya (hate has won, artist has lost). I’m done, goodbye. Injustice,” Faruqui said in a social media post.
Faruqui spent a month in jail earlier this year on charges of “insulting Hindu gods and goddesses” during one of his comedy shows. Some of his scheduled shows in other cities have been cancelled earlier also.
Ashok Nagar police sent a letter to Curtain Call, the organizers, stating: “It is learnt that cases have been registered against him (Munawar Faruqui) in several states. There is credible information that several organizations oppose this standup comedy show and this could create chaos and could disturb the public peace and harmony which may further lead to law and order problems.”
The action has led to protests, with activist Vinay Srinivas saying that the police putting pressure on organizers to cancel the show violated freedom of speech and expression.
