Stand up comic artist Munawar Faruqui was first attacked, then arrested, then denied bail for allegedly “hurting hindu sentiments”. The person behind the series of events was Eklavya Singh Gaur, son of BJP MLA Malini Gaur, who was at the show. He ”roughed up” Munawar, stopped the show and filled the complaint that got Munawar and four other arrested — Edwin Anthony, Prakhar Vyas, Priyam Vyas, and Nalin Yadav.
What can be seen as yet another attack on freedom of expression, and the state’s attempt to regulate laughter and dissent, was widely protested by stand up comics, actors, poets and visual artists. Here are some of the responses:
A very tolerant group of people and a comedian.#MunawarFaruqui #StandWithMunawar
By : @bob_almost @Bobby_almost pic.twitter.com/mrAIgoFpbp— Bob (@Bobby_almost) January 3, 2021
#MunawarFaruqui तुम्हारी ग़लती बस इतनी ही है कि तुम इन बीमार लोगों के सामने सुकून का माहौल बनाना चाहते थे।
और हाँ, अपने नाम को याद किए बग़ैर!
पर उम्मीद करता हूँ की आगे भी ये ग़लती करते रहोगे!!!— Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub (@Mdzeeshanayyub) January 5, 2021
Update on @munawar0018, reported by @ZafarAafaq
1. Update: Gaur had claimed to have recorded a video to back his allegation. But a local correspondent citing the police said that ‘no video’ is available to show Faruqui “cracked objectionable jokes on Hindu god and goddess”.
— Suchitra Vijayan (@suchitrav) January 3, 2021
A brief account of a person in the audience who attended Munawar Faruqui’s stand-up comedy event in Indore, MP.
It says: “No derogatory remarks were made by Munawar Faruqui at the Indore Show.” pic.twitter.com/XcDiQRON2k
— Hussain Haidry (@hussainhaidry) January 3, 2021
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