Cancelled in Bengaluru, stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui was successful in Hyderabad
A day after his show was cancelled in Bengaluru, stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui was successful in entertaining his fans in Hyderabad on Saturday amid a tight police cordon around the venue.
Over 1,000 police personnel in riot gear cordoned the venue, Shilpa Kala Vedika at Hyderabad’s Hitec City, and the show that was sold out culminated without any disturbance. A special team of Hyderabad Police escorted Faruqui to the venue.
Hindu right-wing organisations and BJP have been opposing Faruqui, accusing him of insulting Hindu deities.
BJP legislator T Raja Singh, who had threatened to disrupt the event, was effectively confined to his house by the police. A group of Hindu right wing activists turned up at the venue but they were chased away. “Some BJP activists tried to enter the venue but we foiled their attempts. At least 60 persons, including some BJYM activists, who were trying to disturb law and order were detained,’’ a police official said.
In a statement, Faruqui rejected the allegations that he insults Hindu Gods.
On Friday, Faruqui’s show in Bengaluru was cancelled at the last minute as the police said permission for the event was not taken.
Police cancelled the event after a right wing outfit filed a complaint with Bengaluru City Police Commissioner CH Pratap Reddy, alleging that Faruqui hurts Hindu sentiments in his shows by making insulting remarks against Hindu Gods.
This is for the second time in less than a year that Faruqui’s show was cancelled in Bengaluru. In November 2021 also, Faruqui’s show was cancelled by the police