Kunal Kamra vs Shiv Sena: Joke on Eknath Shinde triggers major row; venue vandalised, FIR filed

NEW DELHI: Comedian Kunal Kamra on Sunday sparked controversy after he took a jibe at Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde during a show in Mumbai.
The incident drew a sharp response from Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) workers who went on to vandalise the venue where Kamra performed.

During his stand-up show, Kamra performed a parody of a popular Hindi song from "Dil To Pagal Hai," referring to Shinde as a "gaddar" (traitor). He also made jokes about recent political developments in Maharashtra, including party splits within Shiv Sena and NCP.
“Meri nazar se tum dekho to gaddar nazar wo aaye. Haaye," Kunal Kamra said during his show.

"Shiv Sena first came out of the BJP, then Shiv Sena came out of Shiv Sena. NCP came out of NCP, they gave nine buttons to one voter... everyone got confused," he added.
According to police officials, Shiv Sena workers vandalized Hotel Unicontinental in Mumbai’s Khar area, where Kamra's show with the 'gaddar' (traitor) jibe at Eknath Shinde was filmed. They also sought an FIR against him.
AN FIR was registered against Shiv Sena Yuva Sena general secretary Rahool Kanal and 19 others for vandalising the Habitat standup comedy set under various sections of BNS and Maharashtra Police Act.
Also read: Shiv Sena's Sanjay Nirupam vows 'strong action' against Kunal Kamra after row over remarks

Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel filed an FIR against Kamra and issued an ultimatum, demanding an apology within two days. Patel threatened to restrict Kamra's movement in Mumbai and promised to raise the issue in the assembly.
"We have filed an FIR against Kunal Kamra for his comments against our leader and Maharashtra's DCM Eknath Shinde. We have demanded quick action against him. I want to tell him to apologize to Eknath Shinde within two days, otherwise, Shiv Sainiks will not let him move about freely in Mumbai," Patel said.

"If he is seen anywhere in public, we will paint his face black... We will take up this issue in the assembly and request our state's home minister to order action against him as soon as possible," he added.
Party leaders dismissed Kamra as a "hired comedian" making comments for money.
"Kunal Kamra is a hired comedian, and he is making comments on our leader for some money. Let alone Maharashtra, Kunal Kamra cannot freely go anywhere in India; Shiv Sainiks will show him his place. We feel sorry for Sanjay Raut and Shiv Sena (UBT) that they have no party workers or leaders left to make comments on our leader, which is why they are hiring people like him (Kunal Kamra) for the job," Mhaske said.

The opposition, particularly Shiv Sena (UBT), defended Kamra and condemned the attack. Aaditya Thackeray called the vandalism an act of cowardice by "Mindhe's gang" and questioned the state's law and order situation.

"Mindhe's (read Shinde) coward gang breaks the comedy show stage where comedian Kunal Kamra put out a song on Eknath Mindhe, which was 100 percent true. Only an insecure coward would react to a song by someone," Shiv Sena-UBT leader and MLA Aaditya Thackeray said.
Sena MP Sanjay Raut shared Kamra's video, praising it as "Kunal Ka Kamal," while Priyanka Chaturvedi criticised the justification of violence over disagreement.
Also read: 'Cannot freely go anywhere,' Sena MP warns comedian Kunal Kamra over jibe at Shinde