Munawar Faruqui's Shows Cancelled: Is the Space for Political Comedy Shrinking?
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It feels like an almost everyday incidence now that we hear a standup comic in India being slammed or trolled for something they said or a particular performance they did.
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But in stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui\\u2019s case - 12 of his shows were cancelled just over the last few months - the latest being in Bengaluru where he was supposed to perform a set called \\u2018Dongri to Nowhere\'.
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The comic had to spend a month in jail on charges of allegedly making jokes against Hindu gods and goddesses. He was released from jail 35 days later after the Supreme Court found that evidence against him was \\u201cvague\\u201d and the fact that he did not crack a single joke. But from then on it\'s been out of the pan and into the fire for him.
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\\nThe comic has faced a wave of targeted hounding on social media from right wing groups. And if it\'s not over pressure from right-wing groups, then it\'s the city police who have gotten his shows cancelled.
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\\nIn the recent incident from Bengaluru, the police wrote that his show could \\u201ccreate chaos and could disturb the public peace and harmony which may further lead to law and order problems.\\u201d
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\\nThe comic has faced a wave of targeted hounding on social media from right wing groups. And if it\'s not over pressure from right-wing groups, then it\'s the city police who have gotten his shows cancelled.
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\\nIn the recent incident from Bengaluru, the police wrote that his show could \\u201ccreate chaos and could disturb the public peace and harmony which may further lead to law and order problems.\\u201d
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But this statement begs the question- isn\\u2019t it the job of the police to safeguard the safety and rights of citizens when there is an established threat?
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And more importantly, what do these kinds of actions towards comics signal about the right to freedom of expression and law and order in India?
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\\nGuests:
\\nDr NC Asthana, the former DGP of Kerala
\\nSiddharth Dash, a stand-up comic and show producer for Munawar Faruqui\\u2019s Bengaluru show\\xa0
\\nArpit Sharma, a satirist and comedian.\\xa0
\\n\\nDr NC Asthana, the former DGP of Kerala
\\nSiddharth Dash, a stand-up comic and show producer for Munawar Faruqui\\u2019s Bengaluru show\\xa0
\\nArpit Sharma, a satirist and comedian.\\xa0
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\\nHost and Producer: Himmat Shaligram
\\n\\nEditor: Shorbori Purkayastha
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\\nMusic: Big Bang Fuzz
\\n\\nMusic: Big Bang Fuzz
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\\nMore from The Quint:
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\\nInterview | Munawar Faruqui Responds to Death Threats: \\u2018Hit Unsubscribe on Those Spreading Hate\\u2019\\n
\\n\\n\\nMore from The Quint:
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\\nInterview | Munawar Faruqui Responds to Death Threats: \\u2018Hit Unsubscribe on Those Spreading Hate\\u2019\\n
\'Hard-Hitting\': Comedians Speak on Vir Das\'s \'I Come From Two Indias\'
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