Hyderabad, June 30: Comedian Daniel Fernandes has canceled his scheduled stand-up comedy show in Hyderabad following threats from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA T Raja Singh over jokes targeting the Jain community.
The controversy arose after Fernandes posted a video mocking an incident where members of the Jain community dressed as Muslims to rescue goats from sacrifice on Bakrid, reportedly spending ₹15 lakh. The video sparked a social media backlash, prompting Fernandes to remove it and issue an apology.
Despite deleting the video and offering an apology on Instagram, Fernandes stated that he continues to receive threats of violence via phone calls, messages, and emails. “The video that has offended people has been taken down and I posted an apology earlier today. However, we are still receiving calls, messages, and email threatening us of violence and vandalism,” Fernandes mentioned in his statement.
In his apology, Fernandes clarified that his intention was not to malign the Jain community. “To the members of the Jain community I will say it again, there was no intention to malign anybody here. I can see that you are upset, I can see that you are angry, I can see how you all are expressing it,” he added.
BJP MLA T Raja Singh further escalated the situation by releasing a video threatening physical assault on Fernandes if he proceeded with his show in Hyderabad. This incident echoes previous controversies involving Singh, who had similarly threatened comedian Munawar Farooqui before a scheduled performance in Hyderabad last year.
Farooqui, known for his remarks about Lord Ram in 2021 that led to his arrest in Madhya Pradesh, also faced opposition but was eventually permitted to perform in Hyderabad after canceling his initial show.
Sources By Agencies
