Kailash Kher Calls for Alertness and Politeness in Comedy Debate

Singer Kailash Kher has weighed in on the ongoing debate around stand-up comedy, urging people to remain alert and polite in public discourse. His comments come amid criticism of jokes made about Bihar and Kashmir on the show 'India's Got Latent'.

Speaking about the controversy, Kher drew an analogy with music, saying it is not just a tune but also a form of discipline. He warned that if the tune is not right, one may end up mocking someone. He stressed that a person should stay alert, be polite, and speak to everyone with respect, adding that everyone knows how to live, laugh, and win hearts.

Reflecting on his own career, Kher said he has always tried to be polite, while acknowledging that fame brings critics, haters, and jealous people.

The controversy stems from an episode of 'India's Got Latent' featuring comedian Samay Raina and former contestant Sharon Verma as a panellist. During the show, Raina joked about Verma's Bihari roots and migration for work. Verma responded with a joke about Raina's Kashmiri identity and said she had left her state by choice.

While the exchange appeared to be mutual banter, clips from the episode have drawn strong reactions online and attracted political attention. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey criticised Raina, saying he should avoid bringing caste, states, or religions into his routines. Dubey claimed Raina understands neither Bihar nor Jammu and Kashmir properly and accused him of lacking loyalty to his home region.

BJP leader Ram Kadam called for stricter legal measures against remarks that hurt religious or other sentiments. He said artists should not cross boundaries to cause pain, and urged the public to boycott such figures on social media until a strict law is enacted.

Neither Raina nor Verma has publicly responded to the criticism so far.