Hasan Minhaj, the comedian, was denied entry at the Howdy Modi event in Houston during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the USA. The denial of his entry had caused a mild controversy and it was speculated that he was denied entry due to his adverse comments about the Prime Minister during one of the episodes of his show The Patriot Act.
Now, Vijay Chauthaiwale, in-charge of the foreign affairs department of the BJP has clarified that Hasan Minhaj was offered a seat as one of the 50,000 people in the audience because he did not register himself as a media person. However, he did not want that seat. Ordinary citizens were not permitted to enter with a camera due to security reasons.
A response from @BJP4India @vijai63 on @hasanminhaj being barred from #HowdyModi event: He did not register as a mediaperson. He was offered a seat as one of 50k audience, which he did not want. Ordinary persons had to enter without camera for security reasons.@IndiaToday pic.twitter.com/RJOBR6Id5P
— Geeta Mohan گیتا موہن गीता मोहन (@Geeta_Mohan) October 3, 2019
Hasan appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers later and said he was not permitted to enter due to his comments on Narendra Modi.
Never got a chance to say Howdy Modi.https://t.co/6nQn4Gl8VH
— Hasan Minhaj (@hasanminhaj) September 24, 2019
On the show, Hasan said, “They said ‘Mr Minhaj we are out of space and you have been denied because of some of the comments you have made’. And I was like ‘I am sorry for making fun of cricket.’ They’re like ‘No. the comments you have made about Prime Minister Modi were not appreciated and you’ve been blacklisted’.”
“And I was in the parking lot watching this whole thing on live stream while I’m looking at the stadium. And I am watching the program. And during the program, they’re honouring the prominent Indian-Americans. And then they show a photo of me on the Jumbotron and people start clapping. So they were honoring me for my comedy while also blackmailing me and blackballing me and kicking me out for my comedy,” he added.
