Munawar Faruqui, a Hinduphobic controversial figure known for his appearance on the reality show Big Boss and his contentious stand-up comedy, has once again found himself in the spotlight. This time, he faces criticism for using derogatory language towards the Konkani community during a recent performance, sparking outrage on social media. Following the backlash, Faruqui issued an apology for his remarks.
Munawar Faruqui insults Konkani community
Faruqui interacts with his audience in a viral video clip, asking if anyone had travelled to attend the show. When a member of the audience mentioned he was from Taloja, Faruqui responded, “He brought up Taloja as though it were a separate area, yet he would have claimed to be from Mumbai if someone from his village asked the same question.” He further added, “Yeh Konkani log ch***ya banate hein. (These Konkani people deceive others).” The audience member then admitted to being Konkani, and the crowd burst into laughter.
Political Reaction and Threats
Regarding the clip, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nitesh Rane criticized Faruqui’s comments, stating, “This green snake will have to go home and tell how the people of Konkan are. Then stand-up will start in Malvani.” Rane released a video threatening, “This green snake has started talking too much. We have the house address of the person who made fun of the Konkani person. We will teach him a lesson soon. Won’t take long to send a green snake like you to Pakistan.”
Faruqui’s Apology
In response to the backlash, Faruqui apologized for his remarks, stating, “I have noticed that some people are getting hurt over my clip, and as a comedian, I don’t want to hurt anyone. The comment was made during the crowd work, and I never intended to hurt or mock anyone. I have many friends from the area. The people I made the joke about also enjoyed the show a lot. People from all backgrounds were at the show, including Marathis, Muslims, and Hindus.”
He concluded his apology with, “My job is to make people laugh and not hurt people, so I apologize to all those hurt by my statement with the depth of my heart. Please forgive me. Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra.” However, he is a repeat offender, especially when it comes to hurting Hindu sentiments.
Past Controversies Surrounding Munawar Faruqui
Munawar Faruqui has previously faced public outrage for his controversial portrayal and mockery of Hindu deities, as well as his insensitive remarks about the victims of the Godhra train burning attack. This tragic event, which occurred when a Muslim mob set fire to the Sabarmati Express near Godhra station, resulted in the death of 59 karsevaks.
In January 2021, Faruqui was arrested for making indecent remarks about Hindu deities during his stand-up performances. Despite being released, his comments on Hindu genocide and derogatory statements about Hindu Devis and Devatas led to widespread protests against his shows.
In April 2020, Faruqui made fun of the 2002 Godhra massacre, in which a Muslim mob burned alive 59 Hindus who were returning from Ayodhya. He described the carnage as a fictional film “directed” by Amit Shah and “produced” by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in a segment of the show that circulated on social media.
Despite issuing an apology and claiming that he never intended to hurt anyone’s sentiments, Munawar Faruqui has continued to engage in demeaning portrayals of Hindus and their cultural heritage through his ‘comedy’ performances.
