Speaking on this subject also has become a challenge, with observers often labelled as dissenters. There have been several warnings in recent years about the shrinking space for freedom of expression in India, such as a steadily falling rank in the World Press Freedom Index. In a country where biker groups and physiotherapists are offended by jokes, nationalists can’t be far behind.Comedians prepare for a whole lot of things - awkward silences or an audience that is not in on the joke - but is an FIR also among them? By now, it’s clear that political humorists come from two Indias - one, where you are thrown in jail for a joke and another, where you joke about your time in jail. Other comics have also faced backlash on grounds of “hurting” sentiments, religious or otherwise. You have to take the responsibility that comes along with it.” There are lots of people who follow you on public platforms. Faruqui says, “You say what you think is right and what you stand by. Earlier this month, organisers cancelled his events in Mumbai and Goa following threats of physical, emotional and financial harm. “Someone or the other is targeted everyday on the internet now,” says Faruqui, who started off with open mics in 2018 and has risen to nearly 1.5 million subscribers on YouTube recently. The alleged jokes, however, were not made at the venue, as per eyewitness accounts reported in news and research website Article 14. The arrest came after a complaint from the son of a BJP MLA, who accused Faruqui of making jokes on Hindu deities and home minister Amit Shah.
In January this year, Faruqui, 28, was arrested at a venue in Indore even before he could perform his set, Dongri to Nowhere. As of this week, at least two persons associated with the BJP in Mumbai and Delhi have lodged police complaints against Das the Madhya Pradesh home minister Narottam Mishra, also from the BJP, has disallowed Das’ future performances in the state and INC spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi tweeted that Das had generalised “the evils of a few individuals and vilified the nation as a whole in front of the world”.ĭas is the latest in a long line of stand-up comedians and satirists who have been intimidated or arrested in recent years for hurting religious or national sentiments. The viral clip from the show lasted all of six minutes.