Comedian Kunal Kamra’s joke on Eknath Shinde sparks political controversy in Maharashtra

Joke during stand-up performance leads to political tensions

Comedian Kunal Kamra‘s recent stand-up act in Mumbai led to significant political uproar after he referred to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as a “traitor.” The reference was made through a modified Hindi song during his show at the Unicontinental Mumbai Hotel in Khar. Kamra’s comments pointed to the 2022 political rebellion when Shinde split from Uddhav Thackeray’s faction of Shiv Sena.

Shiv Sena workers respond with protests and vandalism

After Kamra shared a video of the performance online, workers from the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena arrived at the hotel and damaged its office space. Videos showed individuals in party attire throwing chairs inside the venue.

Sanjay Nirupam, a Shiv Sena leader, issued a direct threat, stating Kamra would be “thrashed” for his remarks. Naresh Mhaske, the party’s MP from Thane, accused Kamra of receiving payment from Uddhav Thackeray and criticized him sharply. He warned of “dire consequences” and claimed Kamra would not be allowed to travel freely in India.

More Shiv Sena leaders join in condemnation

Krishna Hegde, a Shiv Sena spokesperson, said Kamra’s comments angered party members and warned of further retaliation. Milind Deora criticized the comedian’s remarks, calling them “classist arrogance.” He described Eknath Shinde as a self-made politician and framed the joke as an attack on merit-based leadership.

In an interview, Deora suggested Kamra’s act was part of a strategy to deflect attention from ongoing legal troubles faced by the Uddhav Thackeray faction. He emphasized this as an example of elitism targeting a grassroots leader.

FIR filed and legal complaints initiated

Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel filed a police complaint against Kamra, demanding an apology and warning of further action if the comedian failed to comply. He said Kamra would face public consequences in Mumbai if no apology was issued.

Another Shiv Sena member, Rahul Kanal, requested the police to investigate Kamra, and also filed complaints against Aaditya Thackeray, Rahul Gandhi, and Sanjay Raut, alleging a “pre-planned campaign” to damage Shinde’s public image.

Youth protests and reaction from opposition

Members of Yuva Sena, the youth wing of Shiv Sena, staged protests and burned Kamra’s photos outside a police station in Thane.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders criticized the actions of the ruling party’s supporters. Aaditya Thackeray questioned the state’s law and order situation and labeled the reaction to Kamra’s song as cowardly. He implied that the show’s disruption was politically motivated.

Priyanka Chaturvedi, another opposition figure, encouraged Kamra to remain firm, stating that many residents shared his views. She also emphasized the importance of free speech.

Legal action against Sena workers

Following the incident, police registered a case against 19 Shiv Sena workers involved in the vandalism at the Khar hotel. The opposition continues to express concern over freedom of expression and political intimidation in Maharashtra.

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