Shiv Sena Members Attack Venue of Kunal Kamra's Show

Mumbai, March 24 (NationPress) Shiv Sena members invaded the venue of stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra's performance and caused damage after he ridiculed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, labeling him a "traitor."

The uproar began when a video surfaced showing Kamra delivering a satirical song aimed at Shinde, sparking outrage among supporters of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

Furious party members arrived at the venue in Mumbai's Khar area, wreaking havoc and vandalizing property, including defacing the hotel's nameplate with black ink.

The Mumbai Police verified that Shiv Sena leader Rrahul Kanal, alongside over 20 others, has been charged with vandalism during the demonstration.

Furthermore, Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel has lodged a case at MIDC Police Station in Mumbai under sections 353(1)(b), 353(2), and 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against Kamra.

This incident was triggered by Kamra posting a video on his official YouTube channel featuring a performance where he altered the lyrics of a song from the Bollywood film 'Dil To Pagal Hai' to mock Eknath Shinde.

The part where Kamra sang, "Meri nazar se tum dekho to gaddar nazar wo aaye. Haaye," was well-received by the audience but enraged the Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

In response to the video, Shiv Sena leader Rrahul Kanal filed a complaint at Khar Police Station, claiming Kamra's comments were derogatory and offensive towards the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister.

The complaint indicated that Kamra's act at The Uni Continental Club in Khar West was a direct attack aimed to insult Shinde.

After the video went viral, Shiv Sena workers congregated at Kamra's show location and vandalized property in protest. The party has since demanded Kamra's arrest, contending that his comments were extremely disrespectful and deserved legal repercussions.

The political confrontation intensified as Shiv Sena's Thane Lok Sabha MP Naresh Mhaske criticized Kamra, cautioning him of severe repercussions.

Mhaske launched a harsh critique of Kamra, labeling him a "contract comedian" allegedly funded by Uddhav Thackeray to attack Eknath Shinde.

He further warned that Kamra would encounter consequences for his remarks, stating, "He should not have stepped on the tail of a snake. Once the fangs are out, there will be dire consequences."

Mhaske also threatened that Shiv Sena workers would make it hard for Kamra to travel freely across the nation.

In a jab at Thackeray, Mhaske remarked that the Uddhav-led faction lacked actual political support and now relied on individuals like Kamra to assault its adversaries.

He also criticized Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut for promoting the video online. On a social media platform X, Raut defended Kamra, labeling him a recognized writer and stand-up comedian, and accused the Shinde faction of attempting to quell dissent through intimidation.

Raut tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in his post, calling the latter a "weak home minister" for failing to prevent such incidents.

As the controversy continued, Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel pledged to pursue legal action against Kamra, asserting he would ensure the comedian offers an apology. Patel, who filed charges against Kamra at MIDC Police Station, warned that the stand-up comedian would soon be "shown his place."

Shiv Sena leader Milind Deora also condemned Kamra, branding his comments classist and dismissive of Shinde's rise from being an auto driver to leading one of India's largest states.

He accused Kamra of being part of an elite network that falsely claims to advocate for democracy and meritocracy while belittling self-made leaders.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Krishna Hegde also denounced Kamra's statements, confirming that the comedian would soon face "Shiv Sena treatment."

Hegde stated that party members were profoundly upset by the remarks directed at their leader and that such insults would not be accepted.

Simultaneously, Hegde demanded Kamra's immediate arrest, calling for stringent legal action against him. He noted that Kamra had a track record of making disparaging comments about political figures and recalled that he had previously been banned from flying with an airline for similar conduct.

Hegde warned that Kamra would soon receive a "befitting reply" from Shiv Sena leaders for his comments on Eknath Shinde.