On Tuesday, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde addressed the political uproar surrounding stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra’s ‘gaddar’ (traitor) joke, stating that “we appreciate satire, but there must be some boundaries.”
The Deputy Chief Minister seemed to defend the vandalism of the Mumbai studio by Shiv Sena members, stating, “action leads to reaction.” His remarks arise amidst increasing backlash against the attack, with opposition figures labeling it “an attack on free expression.”
An individual ought to uphold a specific standard. Otherwise, an action triggers a response. The right to express oneself is present. We comprehend satire. However, a limit should be set. “This resembles taking a ‘supari’ (contract) to speak out against someone,” news agency PTI reported Eknath Shinde as stating.
Kunal Kamra, famous for his sharp critiques of the governing elite, posted a video from his show at the Habitat Studio in Mumbai’s Khar district. In the video, Kamra called Shinde a ‘traitor’ and performed a spoof of the 1997 Bollywood classic ‘Dil Toh Pagal Hai’ to ridicule the Deputy Chief Minister’s 2022 uprising against his previous leader, Uddhav Thackeray.
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After the video of Kamra’s comments spread widely, numerous Shiv Sena supporters damaged the comedy club where the performance occurred. Certain sections of the venue were also razed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday.
Eknath Shinde also condemned the 39-year-old comedian for attacking national institutions and notable personalities, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while masquerading as free speech.
“This is the same individual (Kamra) who commented on the Supreme Court of India, the Prime Minister, a journalist, and certain industrialists. This isn’t freedom of speech; this is serving someone,” remarked the Shiv Sena leader.
