Delhi-based content creator Amir Shokeen is facing the heat for one of his recent videos in which he made derogatory comments against a young man from Tripura. The incident has stirred up a discussion on racial discrimination against Northeast Indians, with the Union minister Kiren Rijiju and Tripura Chief Minister Manika Saha sharply condemning Shokeen’s actions.
In a video posted on his Instagram handle, Shokeen was seen confronting a young man. Despite the man clearly stating that he was from Tripura, Shokeen mocked him, asking him if he was the Chinese president, Xi Jinping. He repeatedly ridiculed the man’s hairstyle and features and twisted the state’s name into an obscene slur in Hindi. When the man remained impervious to the provocation, Shokeen even touched his private parts to elicit a response.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju reacted to the video on X, saying “this evil man will be punished.” He also called for coordinated action between the Delhi and Tripura police.
Manika Saha has reportedly asked the state’s DGP to coordinate with the Delhi Police. A complaint has been lodged with Tripura police alleging racial harrasment, cyberbullying and derogatory remarks against the state’s indigenous communities.
Rajya Sabha MP James K Sangma separately wrote to Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag, citing sections 196 and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. If the youth is confirmed to be from a Scheduled Tribe, it also cites Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(u) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Amir Shokeen apologises
Shokeen posted two apology videos, claiming that the video was mutually scripted and that the Tripura youth in the video was a worker at his friend’s cafe in Ahmedabad. He even said that the youth was enjoying the joke. He apologised with folded hands to his brothers in Tripura who might have been hurt by his comments.
He added, "Please forgive me. I have apologised to the CM too, who has tweeted. I have made a mistake. I have small children.”
Amir Shokeen is a Delhi-based digital content creator and social media influencer. He has over 1,40,000 followers and focuses on street comedy content on Instagram.
His content includes short videos in which he walks through public spaces and initiates unscripted conversations with everyday citizens.
However, social media users note that his content often crosses the line from humour into harassment. Netizens are flagging his older content, in which he consistently mocks the transgender identity, once even questioning a transgender individual's traditional street begging and asking her to “do some actual work.”
