Controversial comedian Kunal Kamra, who is no stranger to controversies, stirred another firestorm when he took a veiled dig at Eknath Shinde for defecting from the undivided Shiv Sena, breaking up the party, and joining the BJP camp.
Comedian Kunal Kamra, who is under fire for his ‘Gaddar (traitor)’ jibe, he apparently hurled at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a stand-up performance, has reportedly told the Mumbai Police that he “won’t apologise” but will adhere to legal proceedings as mandated by the law.
Quoting sources, a report by India Today said Kamra assured the cops that he would cooperate with the investigations, even when he was not currently in Mumbai. The Mumbai Police has yet issue any formal date requesting Kamra’s appearance for investigation.
Kunal Kamra calls Shinde ‘gaddar’
Controversial comedian Kunal Kamra, who is no stranger to controversies, stirred another firestorm when he took a veiled dig at Eknath Shinde for defecting from the undivided Shiv Sena, breaking up the party, and joining the BJP camp. In a recent stand-up comedy show, Naya Bharat, which aired on YouTube on Sunday, Kamra, without directly naming Shinde, called the former Maharashtra Chief Minister, ‘gaddar (traitor)’.
During the stand-up show, Kunal Kamra sang a spoof song of Dil To Pagal Hai, in which he made remarks about the physical appearance of “a leader from Thane”, and his equation with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Kamra was allegedly referring to Eknath Shinde, but did not explicitly name him.
After video of Kamra went viral on social media platforms, the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) filed a police complaint against him, while the outfit’s youth wing, Shiv Sena Yuva Sena, vandalised the The Habitat studio where the show was filmed. Police has registered an FIR against Yuva Sena’s General Secretary Rahool Kanal and 19 others.
Thackeray defends Kamra
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray threw his weight behind Kunal Kamra amid the controversy, asserting that Kamra’s statements were truthful and reflective of public sentiment. “I don’t think Kunal Kamra said anything wrong. Calling a ‘gaddar’ a ‘gaddar’ is not an attack on anyone. Kunal Kamra has said the truth; he has expressed what people feel,” Thackeray said.
Defending Kunal Kamra’s freedom of expression, Thackeray added, “He has said the truth, so there is no question of infringement of freedom of expression. Hear the full song (from Kunal Kamra’s show) and make others hear it too.”
Mumbai civic body bulldozes Mumbai studio
On Monday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation demolished the Habitat studio citing “violations”. An official of the Mumbai civic body said the temporary shed and other structures comprising the studio, which was created in the basement of the Unicontinental hotel, has been razed.
“It was removed as there is no civic permission to create a studio in the basement. The BMC will check the hotel to see if everything is as per the allowed plan,” the official said.
Earlier in the day, Habitat Studio announced they were shutting down after Shiv Sena workers vandalised its premises. In an Instagram post, the studio said, “We are shocked, worried and extremely broken by the recent acts of vandalism targeting us.”
The studio said artists are “solely responsible for their views and creative choices” and it has never been involved in the content performed by them.
Fadnavis demands Kamra’s apology
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has slammed Kunal Kamra’s remarks against Eknath Shinde, stating that such acts can’t be justified as “freedom of speech”. Fadnavis stressed that while there is freedom to perform stand-up comedy, it does not extend to making “unchecked statements”.
He further demanded that Kunal Kamra apologise.
“There is freedom to do stand-up comedy, but he cannot speak whatever he wants. The people of Maharashtra have decided who the traitor is. Kunal Kamra should apologise. This will not be tolerated,” he asserted.
Fadnavis criticised Kamra’s actions as an intentional attempt to defame Shinde, stating, “There is the right to comedy, but if it is being done to defame our Deputy CM Eknath Shinde purposely, it is not right.”
(With inputs from agencies)
