Arunade Mukherjee
Appearances
Global News Podcast
Turkey protests: More than 1,000 people arrested in 5 days
This comedian was performing at a venue in the city of Mumbai where he made those comments, which you heard vis-a-vis that song. Multiple police complaints following that have been filed against the comic for making those references.
Global News Podcast
Turkey protests: More than 1,000 people arrested in 5 days
Now, there is a background to this, and that is that the target of the Comedy Act is the current deputy chief minister of the state of Maharashtra, the capital of which is the city of Mumbai.
Global News Podcast
Turkey protests: More than 1,000 people arrested in 5 days
Now, this person had rebelled against his party and then formed a breakaway one which allied with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party belonging to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is why the reference to a traitor was made by this comedian. Now, this is essentially why you're seeing this kind of controversy erupt. We saw the supporters going ahead and protesting.
Global News Podcast
Turkey protests: More than 1,000 people arrested in 5 days
Now, the old party to which this politician belonged to has come out in support of the comedian, while the new party, along with the ruling BJP, continues to criticize this comedian. And also, as I mentioned, police cases have been filed.
Global News Podcast
Turkey protests: More than 1,000 people arrested in 5 days
Not yet. We haven't heard from him as yet. I've been trying to track his social media accounts, but we haven't heard him say anything at the moment. But in the past, this comedian has had similar run-ins with the ruling establishment and authorities. He's had police cases, court cases against him. So this is not new.
Global News Podcast
Turkey protests: More than 1,000 people arrested in 5 days
And usually, if history is to be seen, he is usually seen to have brazened these out even in the past. And he's... You know, he's quite well known in the comedy circles as someone who has always taken on the ruling establishment with satire.
Global News Podcast
Turkey protests: More than 1,000 people arrested in 5 days
Absolutely. And I think that is the point that is also being reported. Angry supporters of the party yesterday went on a rampage at this studio where the comments were actually made. This was, according to them, a sign of their protest and anger.
Global News Podcast
Turkey protests: More than 1,000 people arrested in 5 days
Visuals that we've seen on social media and local television channels showed that the supporters were swinging chairs and damaging cameras and lights at the studio where these comments were made. They've also warned for more protests if action is not taken against the comedian.
Global News Podcast
Turkey protests: More than 1,000 people arrested in 5 days
You have to understand that this is a party which is currently in alliance with the BJP, currently governing the state of Maharashtra. So the police, in a way, is directly answerable to this government. So it would be interesting to see how the police actually acts.
Global News Podcast
Turkey protests: More than 1,000 people arrested in 5 days
But like you pointed out, there have been cases against comedians, artists, actors for expressing dissent, for hurting sentiments for another community. It's been a polarising issue. One side always says freedom of speech is guaranteed in the Indian constitution, while the other side says that it should not be abused.
Global News Podcast
Turkey protests: More than 1,000 people arrested in 5 days
And even in this case, the current chief minister has said that freedom of speech is not absolute and it cannot encroach on others' freedom either.