Jains target comic Daniel Fernandes with threats over Bakrid joke. ‘Won’t write out of fear’
Delhi: A video by Indian stand-up comedian Daniel Fernandes on how Jains posed as Muslims to buy goats this Bakrid received massive backlash from the former community. His four shows in Chennai and Hyderabad were cancelled after he received threats over emails and social media.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Telangana, T Raja, shot a video saying that if Fernandes doesn’t cancel the show in Hyderabad, his workers “will come there and thrash him”. The MLA also recalled that in 2021, comedian Munawar Faruqui’s Bengaluru show was cancelled as he allegedly insulted Hindu deities during one of his shows.
On 29 June 2024, Fernandes posted an apology through an Instagram video and promised the Jain community that he would not mention them in his performances. “It was the factual narration of something that happened in a comedic way and there was no intention to target any group,” said Fernandes over a telephonic conversation with ThePrint.
A day after Bakrid on 18 June, ThePrint broke a story on how Jains in Chandni Chowk dressed up as Muslims and bought 124 goats to “save them from sacrifice”. Fernandes read the article and thought he could put a comical spin to it. In the video that is now pulled down, the comedian said that the audience must have some questions: “Are these the same Jains who owned meat export businesses where they profit off the slaughter of animals?” The comedian went on to joke that when the goats multiply, the Jains will have to make an “awkward phone call” to Salim bhai, asking, “When is Eid, we have 300 goats”. The video received angry comments from the Jain and Hindu communities, which took offence at Fernandes pulling a joke about them being meat exporters. The abusive messages asked him to “prove it”, said the comedian.
“I started [my comedy career] sometime in 2011. I have had people outraged over my jokes before, but this is the first time somebody has tried to cancel the shows. Earlier, you didn’t look over your shoulder. It is a very distressing feeling,” said the comedian.
From Chennai to Hyderabad
On 28 June, Fernandes was on his way to the Chennai venue, Medai – The Stage, when he received a phone call from the police. He was told that a mob had gathered outside the police station and demanded the show’s cancellation.
“They were an aggrieved group of people who said that their sentiments were hurt. They filed a complaint at the police station and did not want the show to happen. But they were peaceful, and there was no violence threat,” he said.
The following day, Fernandes landed in Hyderabad and saw Raja’s video being widely shared on social media. Minutes later, he learned that the managers at the venue, Jubilee Hills, were receiving calls and being harassed.
“I don’t know which community the people belonged to, but I learned that they were impersonating policemen and entering the venue saying that they were looking for me and the producer of the show. Then there were calls saying we will storm the venue and vandalise it,” the comedian said.
After canceling the Hyderabad show, Fernandes said in the online video: “To the members of the Jain community…there was no intention to malign anybody. I can see that you are upset and it genuinely makes me sad.”
Fans responded in solidarity and expressed disappointment at the show’s cancellation. “I was literally at the cafe on time for the first time in my life. Returned home with a heavy heart after reading the cancellation notice,” one said.
The comedian said that after he posted the video, he received messages from the members of the Jain community thanking him for acknowledging their sentiments and wishing him well.
“Jains have shown me kindness, embraced me through forgiveness,” the comedian told ThePrint.
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Fellow comedians speak up
Support poured in from Fernandes’ fellow comedians. Kunal Kamra commented on the apology video, saying, “Comedians are an oppressed minority”. Punit Pania said that there is “legal redressal for people who are offended”.
“We instead resort to violence. It’s rather sad how religiosity and hooliganism are so closely aligned in our country. And till the time there are threats, abuses, open calls for violence by no less than the elected representatives of the dispensation, there is no civilised discussion possible on this issue,” said Pania, speaking to ThePrint. He also said that everything in India is coloured with religiosity and there is nothing left for the comedian to talk about.
Despite the controversy, Fernandes says that he will never write from a place of fear.
“I am very conscious about how I write my material. My objective is laughter. I am not looking to put anybody down.”
(Edited by Humra Laeeq)