Gujarat's MS Univ cancels Kamra show citing 'security'

Vadodara’s famous MS University has cancelled a show by stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra on “security” grounds, after a group of alumni wrote to the vice-chancellor claiming that content of the show was “anti-national”.

“We have been directed by the office of the vice-chancellor to cancel the show,” Rakesh Modi, coordinator for C C Mehta auditorium said. “We are concerned about the security of the venue.”

Kamra was to hold a show in the local auditorium on August 11, titled OTB’s Stand-up Comedy Night with Kunal Kamra. Kamra is known for his harsh take on several political issues and also has an online interview show wherein he has invited several guests who are stated to be anti-establishment, including JNU’s Kanhaiya Kumar and Gujarat’s dalit youth leader Jignesh Mevani.

In a letter to MSU VC Parimal Vyas, alumni Hemang Joshi, Digvijaysinh Barad and nine others asked, “What message we want to convey by organising such anti-national flagbearers youth comedians' comedy show in Gujarat’s most prestigious university campus?”

Mimics anthem

The group of alumni in their mail said that he (Kamra) “mimics national anthem” and “openly supports tukde-tukde gang (divisive forces)”. “We seriously suspect some ideological conspiracy to pollute the minds of Barodian youth ahead of 2019,” they wrote in the letter. They said that they did not want the city known for its culture to get “polluted” by such events and quarrels.

Reacting on Twitter, Kamra stated, “Ever been so cool that you find out from the news that you’re not going to be working on a particular day? Celebrating my day off in the future on my day off today...”