After a video of comedian and mimic artist Shyam Rangeela mimicking Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the fuel prices hike was widely shared across social media platforms, a complaint has now been filed against him on Friday.
In a video taking on February 16 that is now viral with over 1,035,000 views on YouTube and over 42,000 likes on Twitter platforms as of now, Rangeela recorded a video at Rajasthan’s Sriganganagar petrol pump about skyrocketing prices of petrol and diesel, in which he, mimicking the style of Modi, said: “My dear countrymen, the public of Sriganganagar in Rajasthan has become very proud. Here the price of petrol has touched 100 rupees. Brothers and sisters, no such government has come in the history of free India till today, who can get petrol its real value, we have got the right to petrol.”
Following this, Sriganganagar petrol pump owner Surendra Agarwal filed the complaint at Sadar police station. He is known to be under extreme pressure from the private oil company that supplies petrol and diesel, media reports said.
Agarwal said that the comedian had identified himself as a journalist and took permission to take a photograph with him. Later, he said that a few people got on the bike and made a video when the pump was crowded, which is why it went unnoticed by his employees.
Reacting to this, Shyam Rangeela, in a video said, “My motive was not to hurt anyone’s feelings. I only made a comedy video. If someone’s feelings are hurt then, I am ready to apologize.”
“I only made a video about the rising petrol prices in Sriganganagar, so that the government can give some relief,” he added.
Netizens, however, stood in favor of Rangeela. Many users alleged that Rangeela is being targeted for his indirect criticism of the Modi government. #WeSupportShyamRangeela is being widely used on Twitter.