Plea to cancel comedy show by Vir Das

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, a ring wing organisation, has filed a case in the Vyalikaval police station demanding cancellation of the upcoming show by comedian Vir Das at Chowdiah Memorial Hall in Malleswaram on November 10.

Samaiti spokesperson Mohan Gowda said that Vir Das had made derogatory comments aimed at women and the Prime Minister and that he has brought shame to the country as these comments were spoken extensively at the John F Kennedy Center in Washington DC, America.

He also added that Karnataka is very sensitive in terms of communal harmony at the moment and that the show should be cancelled as it hurts religious sentiments and can give rise unwanted controversy. The police authorities are investigating the case.

Gowda pointed out that during the Washington show Das had said "In India, we worship women in the day and rape them at night". Of late in Bengaluru, many shows by standup comedians have been cancelled. In September, a show by stand-up comedian Atul Khatri could not take place in the city.

The police said the organisers have filed a late application for the no-objection certificate and denied permission. Last year, popular comedian Kunal Kamra's shows in Bengaluru (Karnataka) got cancelled. The organisers had reportedly received threats.

Another stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui too had to cancel shows in Bengaluru as police claimed the organisers had not taken permission. Hindutva organisations had petitioned the city police chief, accusing Faruqui of hurting religious sentiments.