Kunal Kamra’s stand-up act at the Unicontinental Mumbai hotel turned from comedy to chaos in a flash. The comedian, during his performance, took a jab at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, calling him a “traitor”. He performed a parody of his 2022 rebellion of Shinde against his then boss Uddhav Thackeray, who lost power due to the mass defection of MLAs. Shinde formed a government in alliance with the BJP.
Kamra cleverly used a modified Hindi song from Dil To Pagal Hai to describe the turn of events only to end up stirring a political hornet’s nest.
Not long after Kamra posted the video of his performance on social media, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) workers stormed the hotel, causing havoc.
Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) leader Sanjay Nirupam allegedly threatened to “thrash” the comedian. “Kamra is a contract comedian. But he should not have stepped on the tail of a snake. Once the fangs are out, there will be dire consequences…We will make sure you cannot move freely throughout the country. We are Shiv Sainiks of the late Balasaheb Thackeray. If we start following you, you will have to leave the country,” he was quoted as saying.
Shiv Sena leader Milind Deora wrote on X, “Mocking Eknath Shinde ji-a self-made leader who went from being an auto driver to leading India’s second-largest state-reflects classist arrogance. India is rejecting entitled dynasts and their sycophantic ecosystem that falsely claims to stand for meritocracy and democracy.”
Mr Deora also told a media outlet, “I respect genuine comedians. Balasaheb Thackeray was a famous cartoonist. The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackerary faction) is facing very serious legal troubles right now. This is essentially them using someone moonlighting as a comedian and to distance people from their legal troubles.”
“This is an example of classic elitism…It is a plan to target a self-made politician.”
Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel joined the fray by filing an FIR against Kamra at the MIDC police station. He demanded an apology from Kamra, stating that if the comedian didn’t apologise to Shinde within two days, Shiv Sainiks would not allow him to move freely in Mumbai. Patel even warned that Kamra would face public humiliation with his face painted black if seen in public, threatening further political action against him.
Shiv Sena spokesperson Rahul Kanal also weighed in, criticising Kamra’s remarks.
According to reports, the party sought to file a complaint against Aaditya Thackeray, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and Sanjay Raut for their “alleged involvement in a pre-planned criminal conspiracy and a systematic paid campaign to malign the reputation, image, and goodwill of Eknath Shinde”.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) leader Aaditya Thackeray, in a post on X, questioned the law and order situation in the state.
“Mindhe’s (a term used by the opposition for Mr Shinde – a Marathi word meaning subservient, as a taunt) coward gang breaks the comedy show stage where comedian Kunal Kamra put out a song on Eknath Mindhe which was 100% true. Only an insecure coward would react to a song by someone. Btw law and order in the state? Another attempt to undermine the Chief Minister and Home Minister by Eknath Mindhe,” he wrote.
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