Harsh Gujral's criminal-turned-banana seller joke leaves Yogi Adityanath laughing

Harsh Gujral shared a banana-seller joke with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at a Lucknow awards event. The punchline drew laughter and highlighted perceptions around Uttar Pradesh's law-and-order situation.Harsh Gujral's criminal-turned-banana seller joke leaves Yogi Adityanath laughing (Photos: @realharshgujral/Instagram)Lucknow,Oct 28, 2026 13:21 ISTStand-up comedian Harsh Gujral had Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath laughing with a joke about a former criminal who had apparently turned over a new leaf and started selling bananas.Gujral, who hails from Kanpur, shared a video of the interaction on Instagram after being honoured at an event in Lucknow on October 27. He received the Creator of the Year award at the event.In the video, Gujral was seen standing beside Adityanath on stage as he began by acknowledging the responsibility of leading the state. “I'm sure you carry the burden of the entirety of Uttar Pradesh,” he said, prompting the Chief Minister to smile and nod.Gujral then recalled an incident from an earlier visit to Lucknow, where he had gone for a comedy show. While walking around the city, he said, he came across a banana seller and asked him whether crime still existed in Uttar Pradesh. The vendor replied that crime had been completely wiped out. When Gujral asked how he knew, the man gave him an unexpected explanation: he used to be a criminal himself but was now selling bananas.The punchline sent Adityanath into fits of laughter, with the audience joining in. The comedian's anecdote played on the perception of a changing law-and-order situation in the state. Sharing the video, Gujral said he was honoured to receive the award and privileged to share a light-hearted moment with the Chief Minister.Watch the video here:The clip also prompted plenty of amused reactions online. Some users expressed their admiration for Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while others called the exchange a memorable moment.Several people appreciated Gujral's humour, describing the anecdote as funny and entertaining.- Ends