Comedians face the brunt after Allahbadia episode: Anubhav Singh Bassi's Lucknow shows cancelled

Two shows by Anubhav Singh Bassi were scheduled in Lucknow but were cancelled following law and order concerns.

Stand-up comedian Anubhav Singh Bassi has been asked to cancel his Uttar Pradesh show after the State Women Commission Vice Chairperson Aparna Yadav urged the state's Director General of Police to ensure that no "undignified comments" are made on women during the show.

As per a report by The Times Of India, two shows were scheduled in Lucknow and were cancelled following law and order concerns.

This comes after podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia courted controversy with his 'obscene' remarks on comedian Samay Raina's India's Got Latent show. Remarks by Allahbadia, popular on YouTube for his 'BeerBiceps' channel, sparked massive outrage, leading to police complaints being filed across the nation.

ACP Radha Raman Singh said that there could be potential use of "objectionable content" in the show and hence it was denied 'No Objection Certificate'.

"Due to the law-and-order issue there are chances of people taking out protests against him in the city," the ACP said, as quoted by the publication.

"Even the local intelligence unit did not clear his show," ACP added.

In a letter dated February 14, the women's panel vice chairperson Aparna Yadav noted after watching Bassi's previous shows on YouTube that indecent words ('apshabd') are used during his shows.

"Hence, it is expected of you that you (DGP) please ensure that this proposed programme and in similar programmes of stand-up artists, neither any indecent words nor any undignified comments are made on women," she requested the DGP in the letter.

"If possible, then such shows should be cancelled, and not permitted in the future," Yadav said.

Citing late comedian Raju Srivastava, who hailed from Kanpur, as an example, she said he did a lot of shows in Lucknow and also became popular in Bollywood, but never used indecent or vulgar words during his performances.

"I do not believe that hurling abuses at mothers and sisters is necessary to make people laugh," Yadav said, referring to "indecent comments" made by Ranveer Allahabadia in the show.

(With PTI inputs)