Amid an escalating row over his subtle parody targeting Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, comedian Kunal Kamra on Friday approached the Madras High Court for protection from arrest. The 36-year-old stand-up comedian's content kicked up a major political storm in Maharashtra.
This came a day after Maharashtra minister Shambhuraj Desai criticized comedian Kunal Kamra for his recently reposted video targeting Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, stating that it was time for Kamra to receive the ‘prasad of Shiv Sena’. Desai accused the comedian of intentionally insulting prominent figures like Shinde, Sitharaman, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Police Issues Second Summons
On Wednesday, the Khar Police Station in Mumbai issued a second summons to the comedian.
Earlier, the Mumbai Police had summoned the comedian and asked him to appear on Tuesday at 11 am in connection with the uproar over his ‘traitor’ jibe at Shinde. The comedian has been charged with defamation.
An FIR has been filed at the Dombivli police station as well based on a complaint filed by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel at the Khar Police station. Initially, Kamra requested a week's time through his lawyer to appear before the police. However, they rejected his request.
Kunal Kamra's 'Gaddar' Joke
The entire controversy stemmed from Kunal Kamra's performance at the Habitat Comedy Club at the Unicontinental Hotel in the Khar area on Sunday.
Kamra had referred to Shinde as a "traitor" and went on to sing a modified version of a Hindi song from the movie 'Dil Toh Pagal Hai' to describe the 2022 rebellion of Shinde against Uddhav Thackeray.
During his latest stand-up performance 'Naya Bharat', Kamra took a veiled dig at Shinde, mocking him in a parody song and calling him a traitor without naming him. The joke referred to Shinde breaking away from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena to join hands with the BJP and subsequently form the government in Maharashtra in 2022.
Soon after Kamra's subtle dig at Shinde went viral, angry Shiv Sena workers vandalised the Habitat Centre, where his show was held last week, as a sign of protest.
'Action Causes Reaction': Shinde On Kunal Kamra Joke Row
Amid the ongoing row over comedian Kunal Kamra's controversial remarks, Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde on Tuesday broke his silence on the political flare-up. The deputy CM in his reaction asserted, "we understand satire, but there should be a limit". On Monday, the video clip of Kamra's comedy show stoked a massive political controversy
Moreover, justifying the vandalism of the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar by Shiv Sena workers, where Kamra's show took place, he said, "action causes reaction."
Breaking his silence on the escalating political row, Shinde on Tuesday drew a similarity between comedian Kunal Kamra's jibe at him to taking "supari" (contract) to speak against someone. He also maintained that there should be decorum while making a satire; otherwise the "action causes a reaction".
"Freedom of speech is there. We understand satire. But there should be a limit. This is like taking 'supari' (contract) to speak against someone," Shinde said at a BBC Marathi event.
"This same person (Kamra) had commented on the Supreme Court of India, the Prime Minister, (journalist) Arnab Goswami and some industrialists. This is not freedom of speech; this is working for someone," Shinde added.
'Inability To Take A Joke...': Kunal Kamra's Reaction
Responding to the development, Kamra on a social media post has said he will not apologize for his controversial comments about Shinde.
"I will not apologise... I don't fear this mob & I will not be hiding under my bed, waiting for this to die down," Kamra wrote and added that his statement was exactly what "Mr. Ajit Pawar (1st deputy CM) said about Mr. Eknath Shinde (2nd Deputy CM)".
"To the Mob That Decided That Habitat Should Not Stand: An entertainment venue is merely a platform. A space for all sorts of shows. Habitat (or any other venue) is not responsible for my comedy, nor does it have any power or control over what I say or do. Neither does any political party."
Kamra also spoke about his right to freedom of speech and expression while calling out "politicians threatening to teach him a lesson".
"Your inability to take a joke at the expense of a powerful public figure does not change the nature of my right. As far as I know, it is not against the law to poke fun at our leaders and the circus that is our political system. However, I am willing to cooperate with the police and courts for any lawful action taken against me.
Kamra said the vandalism at the venue was "senseless" and compared it to someone overturning a truck carrying tomatoes because they didn't like the butter chicken served to them.
