Comedian Kunal Kamra released a new parody song on Wednesday, mocking Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and accusing the BJP of “tanashahi” (dictatorship), despite the ongoing controversy over his “traitor” remark against Shiv Sena president Eknath Shinde. Kamra posted the video after Mumbai police rejected the comedian’s request for a week to appear for questioning and sent him a second summons.
It is a spoof of the well-known song ‘Hawa Hawai’ from the film Mr India, and it was released by Kamra, who is currently facing defamation charges. The spoof, which goes by the title “Aapka tax ka paisa ho raha hai hawa hawai (your tax money is going to waste)”, is full of subtle jabs at the BJP-led Center over bridge collapses and traffic problems. The song features altered lyrics such as, “Traffic badhane yeh hai aayi, bridges giraane yeh hai aayi, kehte hai isko tanashahi (dictatorship).”
The parody continues by accusing the Center of ignoring the middle class’s “aspirations” because they are forced to “pay more taxes than corporates.” “Logon ki lootne kamaai, sari waali didi aayi, salary churaane yeh hai aayi, middle class dabaane yeh hai aayi, popcorn khilaane yeh hai aayi, kehte hai isko Nirmala tai,” the lyrics say.
According to a research, the majority of middle-class taxpayers pay more in direct taxes than corporations. The reference to popcorn most likely refers to the dispute over three GST tax slabs for various snack varieties. Earlier this year, Sitharaman faced criticism from the opposition over the matter.
On Tuesday, Kamra shared clips of the vandalism by Shiv Sena workers at Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, where he had made the ‘traitor’ remark during a performance. The video featured a parody song ‘Hum hongey kangal’ (We will be paupers). The comedian, who has encountered the BJP-led Centre on multiple occasions, has declined to issue an apology for his criticism of Shinde. He has, however, stated that he will assist the police. “I will not apologise… I don’t fear this mob, and I won’t be hiding under the bed, waiting for this to die down,” Kamra said in his first comments amid the row.
