Police denies permission to Munawar Faruqui's Delhi show

Delhi has joined Bengaluru in not allowing a performance of stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui with police denying permission after Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) sought cancellation of the programme.

The Licencing Unit of the Delhi Police denied permission after Central Delhi district police submitted a report claiming that the show will have a negative impact on communal harmony in the area where it is being organised.

The event was scheduled for August 28 at the Kedarnath Sahni Auditorium, C-Block, SPM Civic Centre in central Delhi. The permission for the show was sought by one Gursimar Singh Rayat, a resident of Vishnu Garden in West Delhi.

Read | Munawar Faruqui’s show cancelled again in Bengaluru

Bengaluru authorities had denied permission to the 30-year-old comedian to conduct his show earlier this month. Later his show in Hyderabad led to a political slugfest with Telangana BJP MLA T Raja Singh getting arrested for his controversial remarks on the Prophet in a video posted on social media in protest against the show.

Earlier, VHP Delhi president Surendra Kumar Gupta wrote to Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora complaining against the show. Gupta alleged that Faruqui mocks Hindu gods and goddesses and asked police to not allow the show. He warned that VHP will hold a protest if the show is allowed.

Commenting on the issue, Trinamool Congress MP Mohua Moitra attacked Delhi Police and tweeted, "VHP bullies spineless Delhi Police, cancel Munawar Faruqui show. Gandhiji said 'I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed'. Is India at 75’s communal harmony so fragile today that is is disrupted by comedy show?"

Faruqui had shot to limelight through a standup comedy video 'Dawood, Yamraaj and Aurat' on his YouTube channel. On 1 January, 2021, he was arrested by Madhya Pradesh Police following the complaint from the son of an MLA alleging that he made offensive comments on Hindu deities during a comedy show on the new year eve though there was no evidence of him making any derogatory remarks.