A reportedly one-year-old video shared by standup comedian Agrima Joshua has resurfaced online to draw extreme wrath of several netizens. The video contains comments about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue that has irked his followers. The Habitat, the venue where the comedy bit was performed has been vandalized by some miscreants in a violent display of anger. Many including
Shiva Sena MP Pratap Sarnaik has demanded police to arrest the comic. Agrima has since issued an apology for hurting ‘religious sentiments’. However, amidst all this Agrima has been at the receiving end of multiple rape and death threats online. Some of which are graphic in nature.
In the video, Agrima can be seen cracking jokes on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s upcoming statue and all the funny things she read about it on Quora. She further recalls a comment from the website that read, “This Shivaji statue is an amazing masterstroke by Prime Minister Modi Ji. It will have solar cells that will power all of Maharashtra.” Agrima went on to add several more such users’ comments in her comedy bit.
However, the video did not go down well with some users who started bashing her and demanding Mumbai Police to take strict action. Most of the comments and tweets are violent; openly threatening death and rape to the comedian.
Take a look at some of the Twitter reactions here:
How dare she speaks in this manner about Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ?
And the worst part being people are laughing on this joke!!
जनाची नाही, मनाची तरी लाज बाळगा!
Report this account @Agrimonious !pic.twitter.com/r5qhTynRNb
— Pandeyji_Speaks (@malhar_pandey) July 9, 2020
3RD Class comedian iski himmat kaise hui hamara MAHARAJA KO INSULT KARNE KI YEH GHATIYA LARKI KO JAIL MAIN DALO ISKI AUKAT DIKHAO PUBLIC
3RD CLASS LAKI 3RD CLASS COMEDIAN
ALL PUBLIC JAGO YEH ANTI HINDU WALO KO JAIL MAIN DALO OR RASTE PE JAHA DIKHEGA YEH LOG JAMKE MARO
PURA MARO— Avijit Sarkar (@AvijitS91434627) July 9, 2020
My blood is boiling..I swear I am feeling the rage inside me..who is she to mock my ancestors like that? Yes we correct people if they don’t properly say Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj & yes we will keep on correcting them in future if they can’t say it rightpic.twitter.com/hSUzelbQLG
— Namu⁷ ?? (@ilsankingknj) July 9, 2020
The Habitat Statement:
Thank you, to our family ?
Hope you are all safe at home during these troubled times. pic.twitter.com/pvT2AVeBeG— The Habitat (@IndieHabitat) July 11, 2020
Joshua took to Twitter to tag Cabinet Minister Aaditya Thackeray in a series of tweets explaining
how trolls have been brutally targeting her in an attempt to silence comics. She wrote, “Dear
@AUThackeray If you aren’t already aware of this, the @BJP4India IT Cell has unleashed a bunch of trolls at me claiming they’re Shiv Sena. Now, I am pretty sure the Shiv Sena, has better things to take care of in Maharashtra right now, than some comic doing her job.”
One look at my timeline and you'll see these followers flooding my mentions with filth. No follower of a great warrior will ever stoop to this filth. I know it's you, @BJP4India. It's really obvious. Your bhakhts have a very distinct vocabulary for women. I know who you are 🙂
— Agrima Joshua ?? (@Agrimonious) July 10, 2020
Several Instagram users including Hindustani Bhau, Shubham Mishra among others have posted abuses and videos threatening death, and rape since the clip went viral.
VIEWERS DISCRETION ADVISED. You can watch Shubham Mishra’s video here
Meanwhile, Agrima tweeted an apology for hurting the sentiments of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s followers. “I am sorry for having hurt the sentiments of the many followers of the great leader Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. My heartfelt apologies to followers of the great leader, who I sincerely respect. The video has already been taken down. Please amplify,” her tweet read.
I am sorry for having hurt the sentiments of the many followers of the great leader Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. My heartfelt apologies to followers of the great leader, who I sincerely respect. The video has already been taken down. Please amplify.
— Agrima Joshua ?? (@Agrimonious) July 10, 2020
She also posted a video apologizing to Shiv Sena, NCP, and MNS members whose sentiments she hurt and further hoped that they could all move on from this peacefully.
मेरी क्षमायाचना स्वीकार करे,
Please accept my humble apology,@cmoMaharashtra @authackrey@anildeshmukhncp@nitinraut@RajThackrey pic.twitter.com/uHBZMBPOfB— Agrima Joshua ?? (@Agrimonious) July 11, 2020