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Munawar Faruqui issues an apology for his controversial joke about Konkanis, after backlash and threats on social media.
Stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui, widely recognized for his victory on the reality series Bigg Boss 17, recently issued an apology following significant backlash related to a joke he made during a performance in Taloja. The controversy erupted after a video clip revealed Faruqui making a negative comment about the Konkani community, saying, “Konkani Log Chu**** Banate Hai,” which can be interpreted as “Konkanis fool others.”
In response to the uproar, Faruqui clarified that his remarks were intended as part of “crowd work,” a common element in stand-up routines where comedians interact with their audience. In his apology, he expressed remorse for any offense caused, explaining, “I have noticed that some people are getting hurt over my clip and as a comedian, I don’t want to hurt anyone. Maine jispe joke kiya tha wo logon ne bhi bahut enjoy kiya tha show. Show pe bhi sab log the, Marathi log the, Muslim log the, Hindu log the (The people I made the joke about also enjoyed the show a lot. There were people from all backgrounds at the show— Marathis, Muslims, Hindus). But when we see such things on the internet, and we notice it, we understand the issue. I want to apologise and say sorry to all. Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra.”
The incident escalated as BJP MLA Nitesh Rane issued a threatening statement directed at Faruqui, stating publicly, “Won’t take long to send a green snake like you to Pakistan.” This comment notably intensified the backlash that Faruqui was experiencing on social media platforms.
The issue also drew the ire of supporters from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), who condemned Faruqui’s remarks. This is not an isolated incident for Faruqui, as he has previously faced backlash for his comedy. In 2021, he was criticized for allegedly making fun of Lord Ram, which resulted in his arrest and subsequent bail. That incident also led to harsh online criticism and the cancellation of several of his performances.
Despite receiving applause from his audience during the event in Taloja, the viral nature of the video quickly transformed the situation into a broader political and social controversy.
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