Kunal Kamra Refuses to Apologize; Eknath Shinde Reacts: ‘Satire Has Limits'
"Thane ki rickshaw... Ek hi jhalak dikhlae kabhi, Kabhi Guwahati me chup jaye hai. Meri nazar se tum dekho toh, Gaddar nazar wo aaye!
Kunal Kamra Refuses to Apologize; Eknath Shinde Reacts: ‘Satire Has Limits’, Latest News: Comedian Kunal Kamra, who is under the spotlight for his recent jokes involving Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, issued a statement late Monday night, asserting that he will not apologize and does not fear mob threats. He stated that his remarks were exactly what Ajit Pawar (the first Deputy CM) had previously said about Eknath Shinde (the second Deputy CM).
The state government has reportedly demanded an apology from the comedian. In his statement, Kamra expressed his willingness to cooperate with any legal proceedings against him, saying, “I am willing to cooperate with the police and courts for any lawful action taken against me.”
The statement further read, “But will the law be fairly and equally enforced against those who have decided that vandalism is an appropriate response to being offended by a joke? And against the unelected members of the BMC, who arrived at Habitat today without prior notice and tore the place down with hammers?”
“Perhaps for my next venue, I will opt for Elphinstone Bridge or any other structure in Mumbai that is in need of speedy demolition,” he added.
According to reports, the venue where he performed his gig was vandalized by Shiv Sena party workers.
Addressing those responsible for the attack, Kamra stated, “To the mob that decided 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. Attacking a venue for a comedian's words is as senseless as…”
On Tuesday, Eknath Shinde reacted to the controversy, saying, “We understand satire, but there should be a limit.”
When asked about Shiv Sainiks vandalizing the Habitat Studio in Khar, the Deputy CM remarked, “The other person should also maintain a certain level, otherwise, action causes reaction.”
Background story:
Popular stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra uploaded a 45-minute-long video of his latest comedy special titled ‘Naya Bharat’ on his YouTube channel ‘Kunal Kamra.’ The video includes jokes on patriarchal society, blind faith, the marriage of Ambani’s son, innovation, Ola’s owner and Kamra’s tweets, Sudha Murthy, Prime Minister Modi, and his initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as thali bajana and diya jalana. It also features parody songs on the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and Maharashtra’s elections, particularly the splits within Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Additionally, there were more satirical songs on the government, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and other political figures.
What has sparked controversy is his comedic take on Maharashtra’s complex political scenario, particularly the shifting alliances and splits within major parties.
He said, “What they did in the Maharashtra elections, man, you gotta say something about it! First, Shiv Sena left BJP, then Shiv Sena broke away from Shiv Sena, then NCP split from NCP. They gave one voter nine buttons to press—everyone got confused! It all started because of one clever guy. He comes from a great district in Mumbai—Thane!”
Kamra then performed a parody song humorously criticizing Eknath Shinde, the current Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and his political maneuvers.
Overall, the song is a satirical jab at Eknath Shinde's rebellion, BJP's involvement, and the chaos in Maharashtra politics in a fun, musical way. The lyrics use sarcasm to mock the dramatic shifts in Maharashtra’s political landscape, referencing Shinde’s rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray, his alignment with BJP, and the eventual takeover of the Shiv Sena name and symbol.
"Thane ki rickshaw, Chehre pe daadhi, aankhon me chashma, haaye! Ek hi jhalak dikhlae kabhi, Kabhi Guwahati me chup jaye hai. Meri nazar se tum dekho toh, Gaddar nazar wo aaye! Mantri nahi, woh dal badlu hai, Aur kaha kya jaaye?"
The parody song humorously criticizes Maharashtra’s political turmoil, particularly targeting Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his shifting alliances. The lyrics describe him as the "Thane ki rickshaw", with a beard and glasses, symbolizing his identity. It mocks how he appears occasionally but hides away in Guwahati, referring to the time he and his faction camped in Assam before breaking away from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. The song calls him a "gaddar" (traitor) and a "dal badlu" (party-switcher), emphasizing accusations of betrayal.
Jis thali mein khaaye, Usi mein woh ched kar jaaye. Maatra le se zyada, Fadnavis ki godi mein mil jaaye. Teer-kamaan mila hai isko, Baap mera yeh chahe!”
It further states, "Jis thali mein khaaye, usi mein woh ched kar jaaye," implying that Shinde betrayed the very party that nurtured him. The lyrics also mention his closeness to BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, saying "Maatra le se zyada, Fadnavis ki godi mein mil jaaye." The song highlights that despite receiving the teer-kamaan (bow and arrow) symbol of Shiv Sena, his leadership is not original but rather a result of political maneuvering.
At the end of the parady song, taking a direct jab at the claim of fighting against parivaarvad, he says, “Socho na, matlab inka yeh politics hai! Parivaarvad khatam karna tha, Kisi ka baap chura liya! (Think about it, this is their politics!
They wanted to end dynasty politics, But ended up stealing someone’s father!)”
As of now the video has around 3.7 million views.
Kunal Kamra is an Indian stand-up comedian and social commentator known for his bold and satirical take on politics, media, and society. He gained widespread recognition for his fearless humor, often targeting powerful figures, especially those in the Indian government.
In 2020, Kamra was banned by multiple airlines after he confronted Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami on a flight, accusing him of biased journalism. The incident sparked a debate on free speech and censorship.
(For more news, apart from the news of Kunal Kamra Refuses to Apologize; Eknath Shinde Reacts: ‘Satire Has Limits’, stay tune to Rozana Spokesman"