MP Home Minister says comedian Vir Das won't be allowed to perform in the state

Bhopal: Stand-up comedian Vir Das, whose recent performance at the John F Kennedy Centre in Washington DC, titled 'I come from two Indias', would not be allowed to perform in Madhya Pradesh, said state Home Minister Narottam Mishra on Thursday.

Das, who is facing police complaints about his monologue, is in the US right now. On Monday, the Mumbai-based stand-up comedian had uploaded a six-minute video on YouTube titled "I come from two Indias", which had touched on various topics in the clip, including the farm protests, the battle against COVID-19, the duality in responses to women, particularly rape, and the crackdown on comedians.

Mishra, who is also the MP government's spokesman, said that the state won't allow such jesters to perform.

"If he tenders an apology, we are going to think over it," Mishra told PTI when asked about the comedian's monologue. Mishra also said there are some jesters who try to "defame" India, and they have some supporters like Kapil Sibal and other Congress people.

"Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also defames India on foreign land. MP Congress chief Kamal Nath also does it," the minister alleged.

"Such type of people like him, I call them 'vidushak' (jester) would not be allowed to perform in the state. If he (Das) apologises, we are going to think over it," he said.

Meanwhile, Das has issued a statement saying his comments weren't intended to insult the country.

While Vir Das has found backing from TMC member Mahua Moitra as well as Congress leaders Kapil Sibal and Shashi Tharoor, senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi criticised him for "vilifying the nation" and actor Kangana Ranaut has demanded strict action against the comedian.

The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), a film body that claims to have had over 2.5 lakh registered members, earlier said its members won't work with Das unless he issues a public apology.

Last month, Narottam Mishra had issued a 24-hour ultimatum to fashion and jewellery designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee to withdraw an advertisement with an "objectionable and obscene" portrayal of 'mangal sutra' or else face statutory action.

Prior to it, Dabur India Private Limited had withdrawn its Fem cream bleach advertisement, which showed same-sex couple celebrating Karva Chauth and watching each other through a sieve, after Mishra termed the ad as objectionable and warned that legal steps would be taken against it.