Supreme Court Revealed Who’s the True Traitor’: Eknath Shinde on Sena Division During Kunal Kamra Controversy

Kunal Kamra’s Satirical Jibe at Shinde Triggers Legal Battle and Political Clash

 

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday criticized the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena regarding the “gaddar” (traitor) insult and reinforced that Kunal Kamra’s contentious comment about him was part of a ‘supari’ (contract) assigned to him.

He additionally reacted to the remarks, stating that the citizens of Maharashtra and the Supreme Court have revealed who a traitor is.

Kunal Kamra’s Satirical Song Sparks Political Uproar

The 36-year-old comedian has stirred a significant political controversy in Maharashtra by mocking Shinde’s political journey during his show, altering the lyrics of a well-known Hindi film song.

During his address at the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Shinde remarked, “You repeatedly label me ‘gaddar, gaddar‘; soon you will need to shut the ‘daar‘ (door in Marathi) of your party.”

Citing the decision made by the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker and the Election Commission – which determined that his faction is the “true” Shiv Sena – along with the Mahayuti’s success in the latest assembly elections, the deputy CM remarked, “The Election Commission, Supreme Court, and the House Speaker have indicated who the ‘gaddar‘ is. More significantly, those who hold a position above all others have also rendered their decision. Regardless of the amount of ‘supari’ (contract) you provide, nothing will succeed,” the report stated.

Shinde Questions Kamra on Free Speech and Past Incidents

He additionally asked Kamra, “What happened to free speech for Kangana (Ranaut)?” in relation to when Kamra praised the steps taken against BJP MP and actress Kangana Ranaut’s office in Mumbai.

Read More: Trump Imposes 25% Car Tariff, Promises Zero for US Manufacturing

“The Uddhav faction of the Sena, along with opposition members, are now discussing the Constitution and freedom of speech, yet there have been numerous occasions in the past where they took action against those who criticized them,” he stated.

In September 2020, a section of Ranaut’s office in Mumbai’s Pali Hill was demolished by BMC following her criticism of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government regarding the handling of actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death.

What Kamra Said?

At a recent stand-up comedy performance, Kunal Kamra performed a parody song from a Hindi movie and labeled Shinde a “traitor” for his revolt against the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government in 2022. Influencing Maharashtra politics with a musical note to the tune of ‘Bholi Si Surat,’ Kamra ridiculed Shinde and performed, “If you see through my eyes, that traitor will come into view.”

Following the clip’s viral spread on social media, Shiv Sena threatened legal action, and a few of its members damaged the location where the show was filmed. Twelve party leaders were detained but subsequently freed on bail on Monday.

Kamra Stands His Ground Despite Legal Trouble

Kamra, in a late-night announcement on Tuesday, stated he will neither apologize nor cower under the bed hoping the controversy fades, as the dispute regarding his comedy performance intensified with Shinde asserting there should be boundaries to freedom of speech.

Read More: Rekha Gupta Slams Kejriwal: Warns of Punjab Facing Delhi’s Fate

On Tuesday, Kamra reinforced his position by posting an edited clip of his stand-up routine that contrasted footage of Shiv Sainiks destroying the venue and setting fire to his images and effigies with the parody song “Hum honge kangal, hum honge kangal ek din… Mann me andhvishwas, desh ka satyanash…” playing in the background.

Legal Action Against Kamra Escalates

The MIDC police filed a first information report against Kamra for his comments made during a stand-up comedy performance, which was subsequently handed over to Khar police for additional inquiry.

On Tuesday, the Mumbai Police, who had registered a case against Kamra based on a complaint from a Shiv Sena MLA for supposedly making slanderous statements, released a notice requiring his presence in person. However, his attorney reached out to the police and requested a week’s delay for his appearance.

Nevertheless, the application has been denied. After this, police authorities have also released a second summons to the comedian.