LUCKNOW: Stand-up comedian Anubhav Singh Bassi‘s shows scheduled for 3pm and 7pm in Lucknow have been cancelled over law and order concerns following a letter from Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission vice-chairperson Aparna Yadav to DGP Prashant Kumar, urging him to either ensure that the shows don’t malign women or consider cancelling the show altogether.
“We have observed the use of inappropriate language in previous performances, and it is our responsibility to maintain decorum in public events,” says the letter dated Feb 14.
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ACP Radha Raman Singh cited security concerns over potential “objectionable content” as the primary reason for denying No Objection Certificate. “There could be protests against him by groups or a large section of people in the city, leading to a law and order issue. Even the local intelligence unit did not clear his show,” ACP Raman Singh said.
The ACP added that the decision was influenced by the recent controversy surrounding podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, whose inappropriate remarks on a YouTube show – India’s Got Latent – sparked nationwide outrage.
The women’s panel vice-chairperson praised veteran comedians like late Raju Srivastava and Kapil Sharma for maintaining decorum in their performances. “One doesn’t need to use vulgar language to make people laugh,” she said.
Bassi, 32, from Meerut, is a law graduate from Lucknow’s Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University. He began his career in 2017 and has since amassed over 3.7 million YouTube subscribers and 1.8 million Instagram followers.
