TMC MP invites comedian Vir Das to Kolkata to perform

New Delhi: A day after stand-up-comedian Vir Das cancelled his show in Bengaluru, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O'Brien invited him to perform in Kolkata.

The Bengaluru show was cancelled at the last minute after Hindu rightwing groups protested, claiming that Vir Das might hurt their religious sentiments, after his alleged blasphemous statements in his previous shows, PTI reported.

The TMC leader tweeted, "Hello @thevirdas Come to #Kolkata. We would love to have you here this winter. DM me, please. Let's get this going."

Later, Das updated a video on Twitter, him asking an audience whether he made any problematic statement to hurt any sentiment or defame India. The crowd can be heard replying negatively.

With the video, he tweeted that he made it after one of his shows. He has an interest in media spectacles, and he is an artist. He said that many assumptions are made about his content, but he trusts his art as well as his audience.

"I made this video after one of my shows, Just in Case. I have no interest in media spectacles or being used for headlines. I'm an artist. I shouldn't be on the news. Many assumptions are made about my content. I trust my art and my audience to speak for me. #TrustTheAudience," Das tweeted.

Last year, his monologue, "I come from two India", incited a row, and he was criticised for defaming India.

In the last few years, many shows charted by famous stand-up comedians got cancelled in Bengaluru, where people across the country reside since it is India's biggest tech hub.

In November 2021 and last August, two shows of Munawar Faruqui got cancelled. In December 2021, more than two shows by Kunal Kamra also got cancelled after threats to close venues down.