Samay Raina Faces Backlash Over Bihar, Kashmiri Pandit Jokes on ‘India’s Got Latent’

New Delhi: A fresh controversy has emerged around comedian Samay Raina after a segment from the latest episode of India’s Got Latent Season 2 began circulating on social media. The exchange, involving stand-up comedian Sharan Verma, featured jokes about Bihar and Raina’s Kashmiri background.

The episode, released on Friday, saw Raina and Verma engage in a series of jokes centred on their respective regional identities. Raina introduced Verma by making a quip about her being from Bihar, while Verma responded with a joke referring to Raina’s Kashmiri roots and the use of the term “stoned”.

The back-and-forth continued as Raina joked about Verma moving from Bihar to Mumbai in search of employment, describing it as a familiar stereotype associated with people from the state. Verma responded by saying that she had chosen to leave her home state voluntarily.

Short clips of the interaction subsequently spread across social media, drawing mixed reactions from viewers. While some users viewed the exchange as part of the comedians’ usual banter, others objected to references involving regional identities and the Kashmiri Pandit community.

BJP MLA Ram Kadam also criticised the remarks. He alleged that statements capable of provoking controversy are sometimes made to attract public attention and gain publicity.

Kadam said that religious figures associated with Sanatan Hindu Dharma and the identity of Kashmiri Pandits should not be turned into subjects of ridicule. He also questioned the practice of making controversial remarks first and issuing an apology afterwards.

According to the BJP leader, an apology after an offensive statement does not erase the publicity generated by the controversy. His comments have added a political dimension to the debate surrounding the episode.

The incident has once again brought attention to the wider discussion around the boundaries of stand-up comedy, particularly when humour involves communities, regional stereotypes and sensitive cultural issues.