Vir Das won't be allowed to perform in MP, says minister; Oppn questions his silence on Ranaut's remarks

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra on Thursday said comedian Vir Das, who is facing police complaints about his monologue 'I come from two Indias', would not be allowed to perform in the state, prompting the opposition parties and artists to slam the BJP leader as they asked why he was silent over actor Kangana Ranaut's recent controversial remarks.

Das, who is in the US right now, had on Monday uploaded a six-minute video on YouTube titled 'I come from two Indias', which was a part of his recent performance at the John F Kennedy Centre in Washington DC.

The Mumbai-based stand-up comic, who has also dabbled in cinema, had touched on various topics in the clip, including the farm protests, the battle against COVID-19, the duality in response to women, particularly rape, and the crackdown on comedians.

''We won't allow such jesters to perform. If the tenders an apology, we are going to think over it,'' Mishra, who is also the MP government's spokesman, told reporters here when asked about the comedian's monologue.

Reacting to his remarks, the Congress, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders, and some artists asked why Mishra was not giving any statement on Ranaut over her recent remarks in which she said that India attained ''real freedom'' in 2014 when the Modi-led government came to power, and described the country’s Independence in 1947 as ''bheek'' or alms. Das, who has issued a statement saying his comments weren't intended to insult the country, has found backing from TMC member Mahua Moitra as well as Congress leaders Kapil Sibal and Shashi Tharoor.

Mishra said some jesters try to ''defame'' India, and they have some supporters like Kapil Sibal and other Congresspeople.

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

''I call such people 'vidushak' (jester). He (Das) would not be allowed to perform in the state. If he apologizes, we are going to think over it,'' he said.

Slamming Narottam Mishra over his statement against Das, Madhya Pradesh Congress general secretary and media in-charge KK Mishra said that while the minister issues directives at the drop of a hat, he was mum over Ranaut's ''bheek'' remark. ''She (Ranaut) has made an anti-national statement, but why is Mishra or the BJP government in MP not breaking the silence over it? Why is Mishra not stating traitor Ranaut?'' he asked. He should announce the filing of a sedition case against Ranaut rather than pointing a finger at Das, the Congress leader said. ''Will he announce a ban on Ranaut's entry into Madhya Pradesh?'' he asked.

CPI(M) state secretary Jaswinder Singh said the minister was making such statements to promote a particular ideology. ''Mishra issues statements to promote the RSS ideology. His statement is not only a blow to the freedom of expression but a conspiracy to promote a particular ideology and is aimed at crushing the opposition,'' he added. Singh said Mishra should express his views on Kangana's statement. Senior journalist and theatre artist from Madhya Pradesh Rakesh Dixit described the minister's ''threat'' to Das as unfortunate and added that the BJP leader's outrage was ''selective'' as he has ''not spoken a word'' on Ranaut's statement. Some other artists expressed similar views. Madhya Pradesh BJP spokesperson Neha Bagga, however, said Ranaut was neither a member of her party nor the party had supported the actor over her statement. ''But, unfortunately, Congress leaders like Kapil Sibal are backing Das who has sullied the country's image in the US,'' she said. Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi had criticized Das for ''vilifying the nation'' and actor Kangana Ranaut demanded strict action against the comedian. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), a film body that claims to have 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 jewelry designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee to withdraw an advertisement with ''objectionable and obscene'' portrayal of 'mangal sutra or else face statutory action.

Before 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.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)