Mumbai: As a political row rages on in Maharashtra over Kunal Kamra‘s indirect takes on Shiv Sena supremo Eknath Shinde in his newly released stand-up, the comedian Tuesday shared a parody song from the same show of the popular ‘Hum Hongey Kamyab (We Shall Overcome)’, but with a satirical twist.
Kamra’s controversial show, which indirectly mocked the Deputy Chief Minister, using references such as ‘gaddar (traitor)’, was released on his YouTube page Sunday, followed by Shiv Sainiks wreaking havoc at Mumbai’s ‘The Habitat’ studio, where Kamra had filmed the stand-up.
Perceptibly unfazed by the tensions, Kamra took to ‘X’ Tuesday and shared clips of the vandalism by the Shiv Sainiks, along with the parody song ‘Hum hongey kangal (We will be paupers)’ from his show.
Since the release of the stand-up, the ruling Mahayuti has condemned Kamra’s comedy, calling it “low-level” and accusing him of “misusing freedom of speech”. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis even asked him to apologise. However, Opposition leaders, including Uddhav Thackeray, have come to the defence of Kamra and his right to freedom of speech.
Kamra has refused to apologise, instead issuing a statement Monday night to defend his punch lines. “I will not apologise. What I said is exactly what Mr Ajit Pawar (1st Deputy CM) said about Mr Eknath Shinde (2nd Deputy CM). I don’t fear this mob, and I won’t be hiding under the bed, waiting for this to die down.”
The controversy, however, is refusing to die down.
In the Lok Sabha Tuesday, Shiv Sena MP Dhairyasheel Mane demanded “some rules” for content and a ban on platforms “which promote hate speech”.
Mane further said, “I come from Maharashtra, and for the last two days, you must have seen that a joker has been speaking against the deputy chief minister. Through this House, I would like to say—there should be some rules. Instead of comments on a person, if you speak on policies, it would be welcome.”
Accusing comedians of trying to “open their political shops” in the name of comedy, he added, “Someone from here writes a script, and the comedian goes and says it on stage. I would like to demand a shutdown of such platforms that promote hate speech and can create a tense situation between two persons.”
The Mumbai police, meanwhile, have registered an FIR against Kunal Kamra and sent him a summons since he is not in Mumbai currently. Kamra has sought a week before he appears before the police.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
