Following his latest performance in Mumbai, stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra is once again at the heart of a political controversy. Kamra used a modified version of a song from the Bollywood movie Dil To Pagal Hai to mock Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during his most recent show, “Naya Bharat,” at the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar. He called him a “gaddar” (traitor).
Kamra was seen holding up a thin red pocket edition of the Constitution in a YouTube video that captured the entire deed. “At some point, I will put this video out… and for all the people who won’t like the show, I have something for you,” he said before flashing the book. “This is what allows me to do what I do, and in the framework of the book, you can feel free to do anything.”
Kamra, who is well-known for his biting political humor, went one step further with his satire by parodying well-known Shah Rukh Khan songs. He changed the words of the well-known song Bholi Si Surat from Dil To Pagal Hai to make fun of Deputy CM Shinde, saying, “Meri nazar se tum dekho to gaddar nazar wo aaye Haaye.”
The Shinde-led Shiv Sena group became enraged when the video of Kamra’s performance became viral. On Sunday night, Shiv Sena members vandalized the Habitat Comedy Club and the Hotel Unicontinental, which houses the club. The party also staged protests, with its youth wing, Yuva Sena, burning Kamra’s photographs and demanding his arrest.
Following a complaint from Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, the Mumbai Police filed a formal charge against Kamra under many sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 356(2) – Defamation and Section 353(1)(b) – Statements conducing to public mischief.
Leaders of the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena, have accused Kamra of being a “hired comedian” by the rival Shiv Sena (UBT) faction, led by Uddhav Thackeray. Naresh Mhaske, a Shiv Sena MP, issued a warning, saying Kamra will be “chased throughout the country” and “forced to flee India.”
Devendra Fadnavis, the chief minister of Maharashtra, said that freedom of speech has its limits and called for Kamra to apologize for his remarks on Monday. “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,” Fadnavis said. He also slammed Kamra for using the same red Constitution book shown by Rahul Gandhi, claiming that “both of them have not read the Constitution.”
Shiv Sena Yuva Sena leader Rahool Kanal, who has been booked with 19 other party members for vandalising the club, has justified the outrage, stating, “We had already warned the owner of the venue, which has had six FIRs against it in the past. We will teach Kamra a lesson, but this is part of a paid conspiracy. The Mumbai Police is capable of exposing it.” Kanal also commented on the FIR registered against him, “This is not about breaking the law but about self-respect. When elders are insulted, we will respond in kind. This is just a trailer; the full picture is yet to come. Whenever Kamra is in Mumbai, he will receive a lesson in Shiv Sena style.”
“Vulgar” is another strong word used to describe Kamra’s comments by Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC. “You call Maharashtra’s most popular CM and Deputy CM ‘gaddar’ and call it comedy? This is not humor but cheap publicity. Kamra is being used as a puppet by the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) faction. Eknath Shinde was once an autorickshaw driver who became CM – this is aspirational, not comedy. Kamra’s tragedy is yet to unfold,” Shaina remarked.
Yogesh Ramdas Kadam, the state minister of home affairs for Maharashtra, joined them in acknowledging the constitutional right to free expression but cautioning against its abuse. “The Constitution allows freedom of speech, but that does not give anyone the right to insult those holding constitutional positions. As for the vandalism, necessary action will be taken.”
Aaditya Thackeray, an MLA for the Shiv Sena (UBT), has sharply responded to the occurrence by denouncing the vandalism as a “cowardly act” and an attempt to subvert Maharashtra’s law and order. He made fun of Shinde’s group, implying that their response validated Kamra’s claims.
Rohit Pawar, an MLA for the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar group), has also criticized the Shiv Sena’s response, citing similar instances in the past. “Satirical remarks have always been part of politics. Balasaheb Thackeray embraced them, and Eknath Shinde was his follower. In 2003, similar remarks were made about Chhagan Bhujbal, and his supporters vandalised an office. But Bhujbal took responsibility and resigned. Even Rahul Gandhi, when questioned about a comment on Rajiv Gandhi, dismissed it, saying such remarks do not diminish a leader’s stature.” Pawar also took a swipe at the current political climate, remarking, “Artists must be cautious. This is not the pre-2014 era – Freedom of Expression no longer exists. Leaders should also educate their workers instead of endorsing such reactions.”
Imran Masood, a Congress MP, poked fun at the ruling coalition, cautioning that such measures would harm Maharashtra’s economic future. “This atmosphere of intolerance is destroying Maharashtra. It is a leading state in economic progress and investment, but such incidents will drive investors away. The youth of Maharashtra is being forced to migrate, and the state risks falling into decline, much like West Bengal. Investors want peace and stability, but this government cannot tolerate criticism. The opposition’s role is to hold up a mirror to those in power, yet they cannot handle it.”
Notably, Kamra has already encountered legal issues and criticism for his vocal opinions.
The Mumbai police are still looking into the vandalism at the show location as well as Kamra’s comments. In the meantime, the political dispute over the incident between the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena is already progressively intensifying.
The location of Kamra’s performance, Habitat Studio, which was later vandalized by Shiv Sena representatives, announced Monday morning that it will be closing indefinitely in a statement shared on its official Instagram account. “Till we figure out the best way to provide a platform for free expression without putting ourselves and our property in jeopardy, we will remain closed,” the statement continued. Kamra has not yet responded to the FIR or released a formal comment regarding the incident.
