Tight security ahead of Munawar Faruqui's show in Hyderabad, Bengaluru show cancelled

In Hyderabad, people who had brought tickets for the show were ushered into the venue at Shilpakala in Hitech City under the Madhapur police station limits. The audience was asked not to bring their phones and wallets inside the venue.

Hyderabad:Police were seen deployed in strength ahead of standup comedian Munawar Faruqui's show in Hyderabad on Saturday while his show in Bengaluru was cancelled. In Hyderabad, people who had brought tickets for the show were ushered into the venue at Shilpakala in Hitech City under the Madhapur police station limits. The audience was asked not to bring their phones and wallets inside the venue.

This might be a reaction to Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar giving a call to boycott Faruqui's show. Earlier on Friday, while addressing a gathering in Khila Shapur of Jangaon district Bandi had alleged that Faruqui should be boycotted as he mocked Hindu Gods. "We all worship Sita Devi... we see her everywhere in water, air, fire and land. He has insulted our Sita Devi and our lord Rama...TRS party people have called him to Hyderabad as a chief guest. We do not need him, we will boycott him," Bandi said.

According to sources, several activists and leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party have bought online tickets for the show and are planning to hold protests against the stand-up artist. Earlier on Friday, the party's MLA Raja Singh was taken into preventive custody when he tried to visit the venue of the show in Hitech city. As per Madhapur Inspector Ravindra Prasad, Faruqui was given permission to hold the show in Hyderabad.

Munawar and four others were arrested by Madhya Pradesh Police on January 1 following a complaint by Eklavya Singh Gaud, son of BJP MLA Malini Laxman Singh Gaud that objectionable remarks about Hindu deities as well as Union Home Minister Amit Shah were passed during a comedy show at a cafe in Indore on New Year's Day. He was later released on bail. Following this Faruqui faced criticism and his shows were cancelled at several venues.

The Bengaluru police denied permission to stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui's show 'Dongri to nowhere', which was scheduled to take place on Saturday. The event was cancelled as the organisers had not taken permission to organise it in the city, police said.

A fringe outfit Jai Shri Ram Sena had lodged a complaint against the comedian and the organisers with Bengaluru Police Commissioner C H Pratap Reddy. In its complaint, the outfit alleged that Faruqui has hurt Hindu sentiments in his shows by making insulting remarks against Lord Ram and goddess Sita. The comedian was denied permission to perform here in November 2021 on the same ground. (With Agency inputs)