Standup comedian Munawar Faruqui, who was at the focal point of a significant debate in mid-2021 over his arrest during a show in Indore, has now been cautioned by the netizens over his impending visit in Mumbai after Saffron Think Tank, a Hindu Organization raised their voice and demanded cancellation of his Mumbai Shows.
Saffron Think Tank has made an appeal to stop Munawar Faruqui from performing the Talk Show which will enrage and hurt Hindu’s religious sentiments causing disruption in public peace.
When asked about who they are and what are their demands, Saffron Think Tank said “We are an organization named Saffron Think Tank, which is founded to demand Uniform Civil Code under One Nation One Law. We are writing to inform to you that Mr. Munawar Faruqui, a self-proclaimed comedian from Gujarat and an accused in an ongoing criminal case lodged in for his offensive speech against Hindu deities is visiting Mumbai on 29th and 30th of October for performing his Talk Show titled ‘Dongri to Nowhere’ (a name inspired from most wanted criminal Dawood Ibrahim’s biography Dongri to Dubai).
Munawar Faruqui’s recent tweet has also raised a lot of eyebrows, where he says “Dear Farmers, Indian Media ka attention chahiye toh Wheat nahi Weed ugaao!” In this he is asking farmers to grow weed (cannabis). Link attached below for reference.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CUxNXbPIvnf/
Munawar Faruqui’s ongoing Criminal Case:
Munawar Faruqui had performed on 1st January 2021 in Indore (M.P). His show was immediately interrupted for having made an offensive statement and thereafter he was arrested by Madhya Pradesh Police during his talk show. He has been booked on charges under i) Section 295-A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), Section 298 (Uttering words, etc with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person), Section 269 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), Section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and Section-34 of the Indian Penal Code.
His bail was rejected by the concerned Magistrate and Sessions Court on the grounds of safeguarding public law and order. On appeal to Madhya Pradesh High court, his bail application was rejected because Uttar Pradesh Police had lodged a similar offense in Prayagraj against Farooqui.
“Mr. Faruqui is presently released on bail. However, he is not acquitted of the charges. When there is an ongoing case against him for committing a crime of hateful speech against Hindu gods, we do not surmise that an opportunity to commit more crimes by Mr. Faruqui should be allowed” says Siddhant Mohite, Founder of Saffron Think Tank.
Mr. Siddhant Mohite added, “Every citizen in India has specific fundamental duties and that the states must ensure peace and harmony amongst all religious groups by protecting them from negative forces. We have informed the Chief Minister, Governor, Home Minister of Maharashtra along with Mumbai Police Commissioner and all government authorities in a written complaint that this Talk Show ‘Dongri to Nowhere’ is planned propaganda to mock Hindu gods and goddesses as evident in previous programs of Munawar Faruqui. It is a serious matter of hate speech and hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus. Mr. Faruqui whilst not having any knowledge about the Hindu scriptures or Hindu dharma, is influencing a negative and offensive view of the most respected Hindu dharma, without any basis. There is enough proof and evidence of hurting religious sentiments by the lead of the show Munawar Faruqui. We have provided a compendium of all the offensive statements made by Munawar Faruqui in the garb of a ‘comic act’ in the link below” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfocyLQftgg
The transcript of his statements is provided below:
Faruqui says, “The song- ‘Mera piya ghar aaya, ohh Ram ji’, Ram ji doesn’t give a f*ck about your piya. Ram ji is like I’m myself not been to home in the last 14 years.” Faruqui quotes another popular Bollywood song- “Ek do teen…tera” starring Madhuri Dixit from the blockbuster movie-Tezaab to allege that Sita is suspicious of Madhuri having a soft corner for Lord Rama.
When we spoke to a few Hindu Organisations, they said “In light of the seriousness of matter we will cancel the Talk Show ‘Dongri to Nowhere’ and restrict such self-proclaimed comedians from insulting and hurting religious sentiments of Hindu Gods and Goddesses.
Siddhant Mohite, Founder of Saffron Think Tank said “We hope to see a definitive positive step being taken by the Police Department in ensuring the protection of civil rights of people for the avoidance of any form of disruption of the public peace as a result of the Talk Show. Last month, his Gujarat Shows were cancelled too. It’s time for Mumbaikars to come forward now!”