Trevor Noah, compared the two nuclear powers to Cardi B and Nicki Minaj and went on to say: “If they did go to war, it would be the most entertaining war of all time (proceeds to sing fake Bollywood song with grand gestures).It would also be the longest war of all time. Another dance number.”
Tensions have escalated between India and Pakistan in the wake of the February 14 Pulwama attack claimed by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Forty CRPF soldiers were killed in the attack.
India carried out air strikes against the biggest training camp of JeM in Balakot. In the operation, a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis who were being trained for suicide attacks were eliminated.Pakistan on Wednesday claimed it shot down two Indian fighter jets over Pakistani air space and arrested an Indian Air Force pilot.
Read: Act against terror:US to Pak
Meanwhile, while the world was on the the tenterhooks as two nuclear-armed rivals, Trevor Noah thought that the best way to diffuse the situation was with a little old-fashioned racism.
How ‘liberals’ view racism is pretty funny. While no comedian in America would dare mocking African or Latino accents in this day and age, the faux Indian voice – mostly associated with Apu from The Simpsons – is fair game.
And this was on full display when the West's favourite 'woke' comedian cracked jokes about the Pulwama terror attack and the ensuing standoff between India and Pakistan that was deemed both ‘racist and insensitive’ by Indian Twitter users.
Trevor Noah, compared the two nuclear powers to Cardi B and Nicki Minaj and went on to say: “If they did go to war, it would be the most entertaining war of all time (proceeds to sing fake Bollywood song with grand gestures).It would also be the longest war of all time. Another dance number.”
A lot of Twitter users found the jokes ‘unfunny’ to say the least, given that it comes after 40 CRPF jawans were killed in a brutal suicide attack two weeks ago.
Of course, being politically correct only applies when your constituents are well-known and it’s unlikely to get Noah much censure in US, as he would get if he joked about communities or ethnicities that have more say in America’s politically charged environment.
However, if say the same joke was about transmen or Black Lives Matter, Noah would face a lot more anger.
I’ve really always liked ur humour @Trevornoah. Really have. And we In India have a good sense of humour. This still crosses a line. We’ve lost our forces to terror attacks. Somehow it doesn’t sound as funny. #JustSaying #TheDailyShow pic.twitter.com/qknBmi6qfd
— Sonal Kalra (@sonalkalra) February 28, 2019
@Trevornoah wonder if you would’ve made such insensitive comments and gestures when Nelson Mandela was fighting Apartheid #dailyshow #Notfunny #growup #JonStewart would never! https://t.co/QSXi0iAFUX
— karan talwar (@ktalwar1985) February 28, 2019
Insensitive. Irresponsible. Above all, War and violence are never funny! https://t.co/zD2KjadHuE
— Sujatha Sridhar (@SujathaSridhar2) February 28, 2019
Hilarious....NOT! https://t.co/8BNgnHIbPK
— Nikita Sethi (@nikstar_zzz) February 28, 2019
Irresponsible comedy must draw a line somewhere lives were lost families destroyed forever there are some things which are sacred not to be joked about so callously https://t.co/vbluL7iFkM
— Sunaina (@sunainajairath) February 28, 2019
Yeah, not funny at all. And for the record, Indian dance numbers are no longer than High School Musical or La La Land. Sick joke!
— Nimisha (@nim_alive) February 28, 2019
Even though this is against India and I am a Pakistani, this is still pretty racist @Trevornoah
— Waqas (@waqas_x) February 28, 2019
We may have our issues but fuck you for racism.pic.twitter.com/qxN9ORh9Dl
This is NOT FUNNY AT ALL @Trevornoah NOT FUNNY AT ALL https://t.co/fEInotVYY8
— Jessica Taneja (@JessicaTaneja) March 1, 2019
For the uninitiated, Apu is an Indian immigrant proprietor in the wildly popular TV series The Simpsons who speaks with a rather pronounced faux Indian accent and is noted for his catchphrase: “Thank you, come again."
This isn’t the first time, Indians have been subject to such racist chants. In the G20 summit held in Dec 2018, PM Modi was greeted by an Apu meme by an Argentine news channel.
1. US asks Pakistan to act on terror
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US has reaffirmed its demand that Pakistan abide by its UN Security Council commitments to deny safe havens to terrorists and block their access to funds as it welcomed Islamabad's decision to release the captured Indian Air Force pilot.
In a surprise announcement during a joint session of Parliament on Thursday, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman will be released on Friday as a gesture of peace.
Pakistan detained Varthaman Wednesday following a fierce engagement between air forces of the two sides along the Line of Control when his MiG 21 fighter jet was downed.
"We welcome Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's commitment that Pakistan will release on Friday the Indian pilot held in its custody," a State Department spokesperson told PTI responding to a question on the announcement made by Khan in the Pakistani parliament.
2. US urges India, Pak to de-escalate
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Simultaneously, the US has urged both India and Pakistan to take immediate steps to de-escalate tensions.
"The United States continues to urge both sides to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation, including through direct communication. Further military activity will exacerbate the situation," the State Department spokesperson said.
"We reiterate our call for Pakistan to abide by its United Nations Security Council commitments to deny terrorists safe haven and block their access to funds," the spokesperson said.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on Thursday joined other lawmakers in expressing concern over the escalating tension between India and Pakistan.
"This is "a result of a Pakistan-based terrorist group's brutal attack", he said.
