{
  "id": 4182547,
  "title": "Samay Raina's Bihari-Kashmiri banter with Sharon Verma on Latent show sparks row: ‘Publicity for free’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/samay-rainas-bihari-kashmiri-banter-with-sharon-verma-on-latent-show",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-29T11:57:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times",
    "slug": "hindustan-times",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/samay-raina-sparks-row-bihari-kashmiri-remark-indias-got-latent-sharon-verma-101787999878017.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Comedian Samay Raina, a Kashmiri Pandit, engaged in a controversial exchange with fellow comedian Sharon Verma, a participant from Bihar in his show \"India's Got Latent.\" The banter involved Raina making jokes about Verma's Bihari roots and her claim that she was looking for a job in Mumbai. Verma responded by joking about Raina's Kashmiri heritage, stating that he enjoys getting stoned. The exchange has sparked outrage, with BJP leader Ram Kadam condemning Raina for ridiculing a Sanatan Hindu deity. Kadam argued that such behavior is a deliberate act to gain publicity for free. Raina's past controversies include facing legal action for promoting obscenity on his YouTube show in February 2025. However, the Supreme Court recently quashed all FIRs against him and four others for insensitive jokes about persons with disabilities during the show.",
  "summary": "In India's got Latent's new episode, Sharon Verma, who is from Bihar, and Samay Raina, a Kashmiri Pandit, roasted each other over their places of origin.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "‘I am his fan, watched show 2 days ago’: Maharashtra minister reacts to Samay Raina's felicitation by Cyber Cell",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/i-am-his-fan-watched-show-2-days-ago-maharashtra-minister-reacts-to",
        "published": "2026-08-27T08:33:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}