Stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui indicated on Sunday that he would be leaving comedy after having 12 of his concerts cancelled in two months due to alleged vandalism threats.
Why did he receive the vandalism threat?
Faruqui has been in the spotlight since being detained for reportedly making “indecent remarks” about Hindu deities and Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a New Year’s gathering in Indore earlier this year. Faruqui claims he was never given the opportunity to play at the occasion.
The comedian was scheduled to perform in Bengaluru’s Good Shepherd Auditorium on Sunday. However, the Bengaluru Police Department asked the organisers to cancel the ‘Dongri to Nowhere’ concert due to “law and order” concerns. Threats of vandalism from members of the fringe organisation Bajrang Dal forced the cancellation of planned events in Mumbai and Gujarat over the last two months.
Faruqui’s post
“I think this is The End,” Faruqui said in an Instagram post on Sunday, which was also posted on Twitter.My name is Munawar Faruqui and that’s been my time, you guys were wonderful audience. Good bye! Im done (sic).” “Nafrat jeet (sic) hai, Artist haar gaya,” he captioned the screenshot of the statement. “I’m done! Goodbye! INJUSTICE”.
He claimed it was unjust that he had to serve time in prison for a joke he didn’t tell and that his shows had to be cancelled despite the fact that they didn’t include any offensive material.
“This show has gained so much love from people in India irrespective of their religion,”he remarked.
The Bengaluru show sold over 600 tickets, according to Faruqui’s post, and the money was supposed to be donated to the late actor Puneeth Rajkumar’s foundation.
Several celebrities and comedians reacted to Faruqui’s Instagram post.
“I am so sorry buddy, hang in there,” actor Rohini Ramnathan replied. “It’s unfair… but there will be justice, and it will be rich.”
“Nope,” wrote Mayur Jumani, a music composer and producer. “You’re not quiting (sic). We won’t let you.”
