LIVE: No regrets, will apologise only if told by courts, says Kunal Kamra
CM Fadnavis says comedian should apologise to Shinde; Sena (UBT) supports Kamra and slams vandalism at hotel
A jibe by stand-up comic Kunal Kamra calling Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde a “traitor” has sparked a massive row in the state.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has come out strongly in support of his alliance partner and said the comedian should apologise to the Shiv Sena leader. He said that while he is not against comedy, it is not okay to disrespect someone.
"Such low-level comedy and disrespecting the Deputy Chief Minister is not right," said Fadnavis.
Commenting on the issue, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that everyone despite differences should speak within their rights.
“Nobody should go beyond the law, Constitution, and rules. They should speak within their rights. There can be differences, but it should be noted that there need not be police involvement," he told reporters on Monday (March 24).
FIR against Sena leaders
Slighted by the remark, Shiv Sena workers on Sunday (March 23) vandalised a hotel in Mumbai’s Khar area where Kamra had made the comment during a recent show.
While 11 people, including Sena leaders Narain Kanal and Shrikant Sarmalkar, have been arrested for the vandalism after an FIR was lodged against them, the hotel has been temporarily closed.
A police official told news agency PTI that the party workers reached the auditorium of Hotel Unicontinental in the Khar area, where the show was shot, after a video of Kamra’s jibe against Shinde went viral on social media. They also demanded a FIR to be filed against Kamra.
Also read: Those glorifying Aurangzeb are 'traitors': Eknath Shinde
What Kamra said
In a recent stand-up act Kamra taunted Shinde using a modified version of a Hindi song from the film Dil To Pagal Hai, eliciting laughter from the audience. He called Shinde a ‘gaddar’ (traitor), referring to his move of splitting the Shiv Sena and joining hands with the BJP.
“Thane ki rickshaw, chehre pe daadhi, aakhon me chasma haye! Ek jhalak dikhlae kabhi Guwahati me chhup jae. Meri nazar se tum dekho gaddar nazar wo aaye! (Thane’s rickshaw, bearded face, spectacles on the eyes. He shows us a glance and hides in Guwahati. Seen from my eyes, he looks like a traitor)” he sings, parodying the film’s Bholi Si Surat song.
The dig has triggered a massive outrage among Sena workers with the party calling it a conspiracy to “malign Shinde” and filing cases against Kamra as well as Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjay Raut and Aditya Thackeray and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Kamra warned of dire consequences
Sena MP Naresh Mhaske warned Kamra that he would be chased by Sena workers throughout the country. “You will be forced to flee India,” he said in a video message.
Calling Kamra a “contract comedian”, Mhaske, referring to Shinde said he should not have stepped on the “tail of a snake”.
“Once the fangs are out, there will be dire consequences,” he warned.
Watch: Fadnavis vs Shinde: Maharashtra coalition faces fresh crisis
The MP from Thane also alleged that the comedian has accepted money from Sena (UBT0 chief Uddhav Thackeray and is targeting Shinde.
Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel said he would show "Kamra his level" and asked him to apologise.
Sena (UBT) slams vandalism at hotel
Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray slammed the vandalism at the hotel, calling it a "cowardly" act.
In a post on X, Thackeray said, “Mindhe’s coward gang breaks the comedy show stage where comedian @kunalkamra88 put out a song on eknath mindhe, which was 100 per cent true. Only an insecure coward would react to a song by someone.” “By the way, law and order in the state? Another attempt to undermine the CM and Home Minister by Eknath Mindhe,” he said.
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Live Updates
- 24 March 2025 9:07 AM
BMC's demolition squad reaches Mumbai studio
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) demolition squad arrived at The Habitat studio at Unicontinental hotel in Mumbai's Khar area, where comedian Kunal Kamra had shot a video mocking Maharashtra deputy Eknath Shinde, which has triggered a massive controversy. The BMC team was seen arriving with hammers.
Transport minister Pratap Sarnaik earlier spoke to BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, who then instructed the H West ward staff to carry out an inspection.
Assistant Commissioner Vinayak Vispute stated, "The studio owner has constructed some temporary illegal sheds, which we are now removing. This does not require any notice." Vispute also mentioned that the structure's plans are being examined for any illegalities, and further action will be taken accordingly.
- 24 March 2025 8:27 AM
Apologise or face ire of Shiv Sainiks: Nirupam to Kamra
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam on Monday demanded that stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra withdraw his remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and apologise for it, or else face the wrath of the party workers.
Addressing a press conference, Nirupam said the Shiv Sainiks were agitated and looking out for Kamra to take "revenge" for insulting Shinde.
If Kamra has freedom of speech and can "misuse" the constitutional provision, the Shiv Sainiks have the freedom to react, he said.
The Mumbai police on Monday registered an FIR against Kamra for allegedly making defamatory remarks against Deputy CM Shinde during his show, officials said.
The police also registered a case against nearly 40 Shiv Sena workers for allegedly vandalising on Sunday the Habitat Studio in Mumbai's Khar area, where Kamra's show with "gaddar" (traitor) jibe at Shinde was filmed, and a hotel where the studio is located, they said.
Hitting out at Kamra, Nirupam said, "Looks like Kamra is hiding out of Mumbai. Years ago, he left the city after a backlash over his programme and relocated to Gurgaon. If he is still there, we will find him out." Nirupam also accused Kamra of being a ''dalal'' of the opposition INDIA alliance and part of the "Congress ecosystem".
He demanded that the comedian withdraw his remarks, apologise or face the anger of the Shiv Sainiks for insulting Shinde, who holds a constitutional post and whose politics was approved by the people in the November 2024 state assembly polls.
Justifying the vandalism of the studio where Kamra's show was filmed, Nirupam said action should have been taken against the comedian instead, but no one knows where he is hiding.
He alleged the comedian took money from Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders to insult Shinde.
To support his claim, Nirupam showed Kamra's photographs with Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and NCP (SP) parliamentarian Supriya Sule.
- 24 March 2025 8:26 AM
Sena functionary, 11 others held for ransacking venue
Mumbai police on Monday arrested Shiv Sena functionary Rahul Kanal and 11 others for ransacking the venue at a Mumbai hotel where stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra made the controversial ‘traitor’ jibe against Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, an official said.
During his performance at the Habitat Comedy Club at the Unicontinental hotel in Khar area, Kamra had referred to Shinde as a "traitor" and went on to sing a parody on him.
Kamra used a modified version of a Hindi song from the movie 'Dil Toh Pagal Hai' to describe the 2022 rebellion of Shinde against his then boss Uddhav Thackeray.
"It is not about taking any law in your hands. It is purely about your self-respect. When it comes to elders or respectable citizens of the country, when your elders are targeted, you will target someone of that mentality,” Kanal had told reporters Monday morning, a day after he and other Shiv Sena workers ransacked the venue of Kamra’s show.
“Abhi tak toh ye trailer hai, picture abhi baki hai. Whenever you are in Mumbai, you will get a good lesson in Shiv Sena style," Kanal had warned Kamra.
Kanal said they had told the owner (of Habitat set) that there had been six FIRs against the place (over hosting controversial shows).
Kanal and 11 others were arrested on Monday for ransacking the place, a police official said.
- 24 March 2025 8:25 AM
Recklessness in garb of freedom of speech won't be tolerated: Devendra Fadnavis
Addressing the row, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the "reckless" misuse of the freedom of speech will not be tolerated.
Speaking in the state assembly after the issue figured in the House, Fadnavis said Kamra has a history of making low-level comments on the prime minister, Chief Justice of India and the judiciary.
"His modus operandi is to create a controversy for publicity," the chief minister said.
During his performance at the Habitat Studio at the Unicontinental hotel in Mumbai's Khar area, Kamra had referred to Shinde as a "traitor" and went on to sing a parody on him.
Kamra used a modified version of a Hindi song from the movie 'Dil Toh Pagal Hai' to describe the 2022 rebellion of Shinde against his then boss Uddhav Thackeray.
Fadnavis said Kamra has now targeted Deputy CM and Shiv Sena leader Shinde, and the people of Maharashtra showed through the 2024 assembly polls mandate that who is "khuddar" (self-respecting) and who is "gaddar" (traitor).
"Is Kamra bigger than the people of Maharashtra?" he asked.
The people of Maharashtra have shown that Shinde is the true inheritor of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray's ideology.
"Kamra's aim was to belittle Shinde in the eyes of the people. The opposition is supporting such a talk and one wonders whether Kamra is hand-in-glove with the opposition. He has posted a picture of himself with a red copy of the Constitution book which Rahul Gandhi carries," Fadnavis said.
"When you attack the freedom of others, your freedom is restricted. If you insult people on constitutional posts to create disturbances by taking supari (contract) to get publicity, it will not be tolerated. No one will object to stand-up comedy and satire. If we behave recklessly in the garb of freedom of speech and expression, it will not be tolerated. Strict action will be taken as per law," he said.
- 24 March 2025 8:23 AM
Kamra's location being traced; action will be taken as per law: Maharashtra Minister
Maharashtra minister Yogesh Kadam on Monday said the location of stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, who allegedly made defamatory remarks against Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, was being traced and strict action will be taken in the matter as per the law.
Talking to reporters, Shiv Sena leader Kadam also said law is equal to all and he does not support the action of his party workers vandalising a studio in Mumbai over Kamra's remarks.
But one must understand the anger of Shiv Sainiks, the Minister of State for Home said.
"Kamra's location is being traced. Strict action will be taken as per the law. One must understand both sides of the coin," he said.
