Madhya Pradesh: Vir Das, the comedian who is facing police complaints for his monologue “I come from two Indias,” would not be allowed to perform in Madhya Pradesh, according to Home Minister Narottam Mishra. Vir Das, who is currently in the United States, posted a six-minute video titled “I come from two Indias” on YouTube on Monday, which was part of his recent performance at the John F Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. In the video, the Mumbai-based stand-up comedian, who has also dabbled in film industry, discussed a variety of issues, including farm protests, the fight against Covid-19, the duality in responding to women, including rape, and the crackdown on comedians.
TMC member Mahua Moitra, as well as Congress leaders Kapil Sibal and Shashi Tharoor, have backed Vir Das, who has issued a statement claiming that his words were not meant to be insulting to the country. According to Narottam Mishra, some jesters want to “defame” India, and they have supporters such as Kapil Sibal and other Congress members.
Vir Das has been criticized by senior Congress politician Abhishek Manu Singhvi for “vilifying the nation,” and actress Kangana Ranaut has urged strict action against the comedian. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), a film organisation with approximately 2.5 lakh members, had stated that its members will not work with Vir Das unless he makes a public apology. Last month, Narottam Mishra gave fashion and jewellery designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee a 24-hour deadline to erase an advertisement depicting “objectionable and vulgar” depictions of “mangalsutra” or face legal action.