Comedian Samay Raina is under fire after making jokes that allegedly mock blind people and an infant suffering from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The child requires a Rs 16 lakh injection for survival. The Supreme Court has expressed concern, calling the comments “disturbing” and deciding to examine the issue separately.
Raina is already facing backlash for a controversial joke made by fellow comedian Ranveer Allahbadia on the “India’s Got Latent” show about parents and sex. Now, the court has taken up the matter of Raina’s comments.
“We are really disturbed by the allegations. We place such instances on record… implead the concerned persons… suggest measures. Then we will see,” Justice Surya Kant stated.
This development follows an intervention by the Cure SMA Foundation of India, which raised the issue of high drug prices for treating SMA, including Zolgensma, a one-time gene therapy costing Rs 16 crore. The foundation highlighted that these prices are unaffordable for most of the Indian population, making crowdsourcing or public fundraising a common solution for families in need.
The foundation has asked the court to direct the government to include provisions in the proposed regulatory framework that would “regulate any derogatory, denigrating, ableist, and/or belittling content against persons with disabilities, their diseases, and their treatment options.” This request includes addressing the behavior of online content publishers and influencers.
The foundation also stressed the need for “the highest degree of sensitivity and compassion” when dealing with people suffering from SMA. They criticized Raina for making “insensitive commentaries” about individuals with such conditions and the high costs of their treatments.
What Did Samay Raina Say?
During his show, Raina discussed a case involving a two-month-old baby who needed a Rs 16 crore injection. He remarked, “A two-month-old baby requires a Rs 16 crore injection,” and then made light of the situation by suggesting that the mother might question her financial situation if such a large sum appeared in her bank account.
He also faced criticism for a joke about a blind person. Raina reportedly asked, “Can I ask you a question, my brother… which of your eyes should I look into?” He further told another person, “You look at God’s eyes…”
These comments have been condemned by the Cure SMA Foundation as part of a broader issue where people with disabilities are often ridiculed or turned into objects of public entertainment on social media. The foundation argued that free speech should not be used as an excuse to make light of serious issues, and such comments should not be dismissed as “satire.”
