Stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui’s show, scheduled to be held on Saturday in Bengaluru, was cancelled by the city police.
The police said organisers had not taken prior permission to hold the event.
Jai Shri Ram Sena, a Hindu militant group had filed a complaint against Faruqui with Bengaluru’s top cop Pratap Reddy, alleging that the comedian had hurt Hindu sentiments by making statements against deities Lord Ram and Goddess Sita.
Following this, police in Bengaluru denied permission for the comedian to hold the show, ‘Dongri to nowhere’, which was set to take place at the MNR Convention Hall in JP Nagar.
This is the second time that Faruqui’s show has been called off in Bengaluru — the first time in November last year. It was set to be held at the same ground.
The development comes amid tight security being deployed at a venue in Hyderabad where Faruqui is set to perform. A day ago, BJP leaders, including controversial MLA Raja Singh were taken into preventive custody, for threatening to damage the venue and attack Faruqui if he performed in the city.
Hindutva groups and politicians have constantly targeted the Muslim artist since he was arrested in January last year in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore.
Over the last one year, Faruqui’s shows have been cancelled in Bengaluru, Gurugram, Raipur, Surat, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Goa and Mumbai due to the disruptions from Hindutva groups.
In January last year, Faruqui had been arrested from Indore based on a complaint filed by the son of a BJP leader about a purported joke that he had not even made. The Muslim comedian spent 37 days in jail before the Supreme Court granted him bail.
