PANAJI
Stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui, best known for being imprisoned for a ‘joke’ he did not crack, has been asked to shut shop in Goa.
Organisers of the stand-up comedy event featuring Faruqui, which was scheduled to be held at the Caculo Mall on November 15, have cancelled the event on a day when Hindu groups claimed that Faruqui should not be allowed to perform in the poll-bound state, accusing him of slandering Hindu deities.
While Warren Viegas of LVC Comedy, one of the organisers of the event, refused to comment on the issue, sources said that the decision to cancel it was taken after officials at the Panaji police station weighed in on the issue, citing law and order problem if the event was held.
“The police were courteous in their disposition towards us and patiently explained the situation, after which a decision to cancel the event was taken,” informed sources said.
Earlier on Saturday, Hindu groups including the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti had demanded a ban on Faruqui’s stand-up comedy act, citing the comedian’s recent tryst with controversy and his alleged penchant for denigrating Hindu Gods.
Faruqui, who hails from Gujarat, was arrested for allegedly denigrating Hindu gods during an event in Indore earlier this year. He was in custody for nearly 35 days and has claimed that he had never cracked the jokes, which he has alleged to have made at the Indore event.
“He has made vulgar jokes about Hindu gods. He has targeted them. He was behind bars for 37 days in Madhya Pradesh for insulting Hindu religion,” spokesperson for the protesting groups Jayesh Thali said.
The groups had also submitted a memorandum to the district administration, state police and management of the Caculo mall, where the event was scheduled to be held.
“The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti had appealed to the North Goa Additional Collector Mamu Hage and Caculo Mall management to cancel the comedy show of self-proclaimed comedian to be held on 15th November at LVC Comedy Club, Panaji. On this request, the Caculo Mall management has informed HJS that above said program has been cancelled,” a statement issued by the Samiti said.
Promoter of the mall Manoj Caculo could not be contacted for comment over the phone.
Thali also said if Muthalik could be banned in Goa, why should Faruqui be allowed, especially with elections around the corner.
“There are elections in Goa and at such events could create acrimony in the state. If Pramod Muthalik can be banned in Goa, why is Munawar allowed in Goa,” he argued.
Muthalaik, who heads the Karnataka-based Sri Rama Sena, has been banned by the state administration from 2014 after the Hindu activist said that he proposed to set up a branch of the organisation in Goa and would work towards banning nightlife and pubs because they allegedly aped Western culture.
