Shiv Sena Archives - National Times

05 Apr

BookMyShow Delists Kunal Kamra Amid Shiv Sena Pressure, Comedian Yet to Respond to Police Notices

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBookMyShow, Eknath Shinde, Kunal Kamra, Rahool Kanal, Shiv Sena

Mumbai, April 5, 2025 — In a controversial move, ticketing giant BookMyShow has reportedly removed stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra from its listings following pressure from the Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Shiv Sena functionary Rahool Kanal confirmed the action and publicly thanked BookMyShow CEO Ashish Hemrajani for what he described as “keeping the portal clean.”While BookMyShow has not officially commented, Kanal released a letter praising the platform for removing Kamra not only from ticket sales and promotions but also from the site’s search history. "Thank you for respecting our emotions and maintaining peace," Kanal wrote.He…

Kunal Kamra Refuses to Apologize Amid Row Over Satirical Act on Eknath Shinde

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaEknath Shinde, Kunal Kamra, Maharashtra politics, Shiv Sena

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…

Eknath Shinde Responds to Kunal Kamra Row, Says “Action Causes Reaction”

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaEknath Shinde, Kunal Kamra, Maharashtra politics, Shiv Sena

Mumbai, March 25, 2025: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has compared comedian Kunal Kamra’s jibe at him to taking a “supari” (contract) to speak against someone and warned that satire must have limits. Speaking at a BBC Marathi event on Monday, Shinde acknowledged freedom of speech but insisted on maintaining decorum, stating that "action causes reaction."Shinde’s comments follow Kamra’s parody performance, where the stand-up comedian referenced him as a “gaddar” (traitor) while mocking Maharashtra’s recent political turmoil, including the Shiv Sena and NCP splits. The show, held at Habitat Comedy Club in Mumbai’s Khar area, triggered violent backlash from…