Congress Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh extended an open invitation on Twitter to stand-up comedians Kunal Kamra and Munawar Faruqui for a show in Bhopal with himself (Singh) as the sole subject of the comedy.
The former Madhya Pradesh chief minister, while tweeting a BBC interview of Kamra on repeated cancellation of his and Faruqui's shows in various parts of the country because of the pressure from right wing groups, said on Monday that the entire responsibility of the proposed show will be his (Singh's).
In the interview, Kamra is heard saying, “those in power do not like to laugh” and that “only comedy with Rahul Gandhi as the subject could be approved of now.”
“Kunal, I will arrange a show for you and Munawar in Bhopal. Entire responsibility will be mine. There will be only one condition – the subject of comedy will be Digvijaya Singh only. Sanghis should not have any objection to this. Come, do not fear. Give dates and time according to your convenience. All your conditions are accepted,” Singh tweeted along with the BBC interview.
मैं कुणाल तुम्हारे और मुन्नवर के लिए भोपाल में शो आयोजित करता हूँ। सारी ज़िम्मेदारी मेरी होगी।
— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) December 13, 2021
शर्त एक होगी, कॉमेडी का सब्जेक्ट केवल दिग्विजय सिंह होगा।
इसमें तो संघियों को एतराज़ नहीं होना चाहिए!! आओ डरो मत!!
अपनी सुविधानुसार तारीख़ व समय दो।
तुम्हारी सभी शर्तें मंज़ूर हैं। https://t.co/PRrvY0zupm
In an apparent jocular response, Kamra tweeted “Sir thank you for the kind invitation. Checking if we have life insurance and getting back to you ASAP.”
Sir thank you for the kind invitation. Checking if we have life insurance and getting back to you ASAP 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 https://t.co/2Ka0USmzpj
— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) December 13, 2021
However, Singh's open invitation to the comedians has not gone down well with MP BJP. Party spokesperson Hitesh Bajpai said, “Digvijaya Singh is not happy unless he is able to cause riots between Hindus and Muslims. This is the reason he is inviting such destructive artists who add fuel to fire. Under (Chief Minister) Shivraj Singh (Chouhan), Madhya Pradesh is an island of peace. Narottam Mishra is the home minister and police commissionerate system has been implemented (in Bhopal and Indore). I would ask Digvijaya Singh to show courage (to organise the show). The jails of Madhya Pradesh are waiting for them (the artists).”
On the eve of 2021 New Years Day, Faruqui's was disrupted by a right wing group before he even started performing in Indore. The comedian was arrested and charged with violation of COVID-19 norms and hurting religious sentiments. Faruqui spent more than a month in jail with five other associates (who spent more time) before the Supreme Court granted him bail.
Later, several of his shows were cancelled across the country, forcing him to announce that he is quitting comedy, recently. Kamra, who is quite vocal on social media, also had his shows cancelled recently, including those in Bengaluru.
