Munawar Faruqui Apologizes For His Remark On 'Konkoni Log'

Comedian Munawar Faruqui, famous for winning the Salman Khan-hosted reality show Bigg Boss 17, recently issued a public apology on Monday after facing criticism for a controversial joke he made during a performance in Taloja. The backlash stemmed from a video clip that emerged, showing Faruqui making a derogatory comment about Konkanis. In the video, he can be heard making the offensive remark,“Konkani Log Chu**** Banate Hai,” which translates to “Konkanis fool others.”

Faruqui has explained that his remarks were a part of "crowd work," a typical technique in stand-up comedy that involves engaging with the audience. In his apology, he expressed remorse for any offense caused, acknowledging his words and their impact, “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 situation gained a lot of focus, and BJP MLA Nitesh Rane was seen in a video issuing a threat to Faruqui, “Won’t take long to send a green snake like you to Pakistan.” This comment added fuel to the already intense reaction the comedian faced on social media.

The MNS supporters also chimed in, criticizing Faruqui for his comments. This isn't the first time Faruqui has found himself in hot water due to his humor. Back in 2021, he faced backlash for supposedly making fun of Lord Ram, which led to his arrest and eventual release on bail. The earlier controversy also sparked intense online backlash and led to the cancellation of many of his shows.

Even though the crowd initially cheered during his Taloja show, the video clip going viral triggered an increasing political and social backlash.