Hyderabad: BJP MLA T Raja Singh threatens to stall Munawar Faruqui show, held

HYDERABAD: BJP MLA, T Raja Singh, was taken into preventive custody on Friday for threatening to disrupt comedian Munawar Faruqui's show in Hyderabad, scheduled to be held on Saturday. The MLA claimed that his supporters had bought tickets for the event online and would be present at the venue to ensure it is stalled.
"We have not registered any case. It is only a preventive arrest,"' confirmed R Satish Kumar, assistant commissioner of police (Goshamahal Division).
The MLA was taken into custody from his home while he was leaving for Shilpakala Vedika - the event venue - even as his followers raised slogans against Munawar and Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
"Even if you arrest me or my followers, let me tell you one thing... Already our activists have bought tickets online. If you want to ensure there is no law and order issue, minister KTR, the DGP, Cyberabad CP should cancel the show," he warned.
Raja Singh said, "He is known for saying objectionable things against our gods and goddesses. In many states his events have been cancelled in the past." "If the event is held, we will organise a comedy show on August 22 and the DGP will be responsible for any communal fallout," he added.
In December last year, IT minister K T Rama Rao had said that comedians like Munawar Faruqui and Kunal Kamra are welcome to perform in Hyderabad. This was after Munawar's show in Bengaluru was called off.
Speaking to TOI, officials from Shilpakala Vedika hinted at the possibility of the show being shelved. "We received an application for booking the venue from Munawar this morning but are yet to receive any payment. Now it is too late for them to send a demand draft, so I do not think we will be able to provide the venue for the show tomorrow (Saturday)," said the official. The organisers were supposed to pay 3.5 lakh (plus GST) for the venue along with 1 lakh as security deposit. "We were open to hosting him...he had even sought police permission a couple of days ago...but we cannot do anything unless we get the money," the official added. The show on the online portal reads 'sold out' for August 20.
Meanwhile, BJP state chief Bandi Sanjay called for a boycott of Munawar Faruqui show. During his Praja Sangrama Yatra, he said, "Chief minister should apologise for allowing the comedian to perform in the state. "How can you allow someone, who insulted Sita Devi in his shows, in the state? What message is he sending to people?" he asked.