National Times Bureau, March 25, 2025: Comedian Kunal Kamra has taken a firm stand amid the controversy surrounding his parody act on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, refusing to apologize or back down. In a late-night statement, he declared, “I will not apologise or hide under the bed waiting for the controversy to die down.”
Shinde, reacting to Kamra’s act, compared it to “taking supari (contract) to speak against someone” and said that while freedom of speech exists, it should have limits. The row escalated as Mumbai Police issued a notice summoning Kamra for questioning at Khar police station, with officials confirming the probe was underway.
Kamra, known for his anti-establishment humor, doubled down by sharing an edited video of his stand-up act. The clip juxtaposed footage of Shiv Sena workers vandalizing the show venue, burning his pictures and effigies, with the parody song “Hum honge kangal, hum honge kangal ek din… Mann me andhvishwas, desh ka satyanash…” playing in the background.
In an apparent dig at critics, Kamra also updated his X (formerly Twitter) header with a disclaimer that reads: “This programme contains coarse language, offensive content & is unfit for consumption by those whose feelings and sentiments can be hurt.”
While speaking to BBC Marathi, Shinde insisted he does not justify vandalism but warned that “action causes reaction.”
Kamra, whose video has already garnered over 4.3 million views in two days, defended his right to free speech and satire. He argued that his remarks were no different from those made by Maharashtra’s first Deputy CM Ajit Pawar about Shinde, adding, “Our right to freedom of speech and expression is not only to be used to fawn over the powerful and rich… It is not against the law to poke fun at our leaders and the circus that is our political system.”
The controversy has sparked polarized reactions, with some defending Kamra’s freedom of speech while others accuse him of crossing the line. Meanwhile, Mumbai Police have registered an FIR against Kamra and also booked 40 Shiv Sena workers for vandalizing the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, where the show was performed.
The incident has once again ignited debates on political satire, free speech, and the limits of criticism in India.
