Kunal Kamra's 'Traitor' Remark on Maha Dy CM Eknath Shinde Incites Fury, Shiv Sena Files Police Report

Mumbai, March 24 (NationPress) A political controversy has erupted after Comedian Kunal Kamra posted a video on his official YouTube channel on Sunday, in which he labeled Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as a "traitor".

The video has incited significant backlash from members of the Eknath Shinde-led faction of Shiv Sena.

In response to the video, Rahul Kanal, a leader from the Shinde faction, filed a formal complaint against Kamra at the Khar Police Station in Mumbai.

The complaint claims that Kamra made offensive comments about Eknath Shinde during a live performance at The Uni Continental Club in Khar West.

As stated in the complaint, Kamra performed a parody song targeting Eknath Shinde during the event, which has been deemed inappropriate by the Shinde faction.

After news of the performance spread, some Shiv Sena supporters allegedly visited the venue, questioned the club management, and caused property damage.

The Shinde faction of Shiv Sena has called for a case to be filed against Kamra and for his arrest over his comments.

Authorities have not yet confirmed if an FIR has been officially lodged against the comedian.

Shiv Sena members damaged property at Hotel Unicontinental in Mumbai's Khar area, where Kamra's show featuring his 'gaddar' (traitor) remark about Eknath Shinde was recorded and have sought an FIR against him, according to police.

“Meri nazar se tum dekho to gaddar nazar wo aaye. Haaye,” Kunal Kamra stated during his performance. He mocked Eknath Shinde using a modified version of a Hindi song from "Dil To Pagal Hai", eliciting laughter from the audience.

The comedian posted the video clip on the social media platform X.

Kunal Kamra referenced Eknath Shinde's 2022 rebellion, which resulted in the division of Shiv Sena into the Shinde faction and the Uddhav Thackeray faction.

Naresh Mhaske, a Lok Sabha MP from Thane representing Shiv Sena, commented, "Kamra is a contract comedian. But he should not have stepped on the tail of a snake" (apparently referring to Shinde). "Once the fangs are out, there will be dire consequences."

Kunal Kamra has accepted payments from Uddhav Thackeray and is now targeting Eknath Shinde, Mhaske claimed.

"We will ensure that you cannot move freely across the country. We are Shiv Sainiks of the late Balasaheb Thackeray. If we start following you, you will have to leave the country," the Thane Lok Sabha MP added.

"His party is left with nobody, so it is hiring such people. Kamra will now understand the repercussions of criticizing Shinde," Mhaske said, attacking Thackeray.

Mhaske also criticized Sanjay Raut, a leader of Shiv Sena-UBT, for sharing the video on X.

In a post on X, Raut remarked, "Kunal Kamra is a renowned writer and stand-up comedian. Kunal crafted a parody song about Maharashtra's political landscape, which provoked the Shinde faction and led them to vandalize the studio. Devendraji, you are a weak home minister."

Raut tagged the personal handles of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on X.

Murji Patel, a Shiv Sena MLA, stated that he would demonstrate "Kamra his level" and demanded an apology.

"I am going to file an FIR against Kamra at MIDC police station," Patel said.

Aaditya Thackeray, a Shiv Sena-UBT leader and MLA, condemned the attack on the studio where Kunal Kamra performed, labeling it a cowardly act.

In a post on X, Thackeray expressed, "Mindhe's (referring to Shinde) coward gang disrupts the comedy show stage where comedian @kunalkamra88 performed a song on Eknath Mindhe, which was 100% true. Only an insecure coward would react to a song by someone."

He further questioned the state's law and order, adding, "By the way, law and order in the state? Another attempt to undermine the CM and Home Minister by Eknath Mindhe," he remarked.

Aaditya Thackeray frequently refers to Shinde as "Mindhe", a Marathi term meaning subservient, as an insult.

Krishna Hegde, a spokesperson for Shiv Sena, criticized Kamra’s remarks, emphasizing that party members were outraged by his comments.

"The comedian will receive ‘Shiv Sena treatment,’ as none of the Shiv Sainiks have appreciated his statements," Hegde warned without elaborating on what this might entail.

In response to Kunal Kamra's remarks about Eknath Shinde, Shiv Sena leader Milind Deora stated on X, “Mocking Eknath Shinde ji—a self-made leader who transitioned 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.”

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Krishna Hegde told IANS, "Mumbai Police should arrest Kunal Kamra. He should be put behind bars.... He should be booked under the law. The type of derogatory language and abusive words used by Kunal Kamra for Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde is an insult to the people of Maharashtra. No Shiv Sena workers would tolerate such language used for their leader Eknath Shinde, and Kunal Kamra has used such derogatory comments against several other individuals in the past as well. Kunal Kamra is a habitual offender and had been banned for six months previously from boarding an airline. Kunal Kamra will receive a fitting response from Shiv Sena leaders soon."