COMEDIAN Kunal Kamra stood his ground and stubbornly refused to apologise for his jokes targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who reminded him about maintaining decorum and limits to freed speech but asserted he did not support vandalism. “I will not apologise or hide under the bed waiting for the controversy to die down,” a defiant Kamra asserted in a late Monday night statement as his controversial comments made during a show in Mumbai continued to stir politics in Maharashtra and beyond. While Shinde said the comments - a parody targeting him -- were like “taking supari (or contract)” to speak against someone, many others weighed in too and the Mumbai Police issued notice to the stand-up comedian. The 36-year-old comic, who has often courted controversy for his anti-establishment views, has been asked to appear before the Khar police in Mumbai in connection with a case filed against him for defamation, officials said on Tuesday.

 

Kamra doubled down on his stand by sharing an edited video of his stand up act where he juxtaposed videos of Shiv Sainiks demolishing the venue in Mumbai where he recorded the show and burning his pictures and effigies with the parody song “Hum honge kangal, hum honge kangal ek din... Mann me andhvishwas, desh ka satyanash...” playing in the background. The comedian, who is in Puducherry according to his Instagram bio, has updated his X header photo with a disclaimer that reads: “This programme contains coarse language, offensive content & is unfit for consumption by those whose feelings and sentiments can be hurt. No one but you are liable for any outrage or hurt that you claim is caused by your voluntary viewership.”

 

In his response, Shinde told BBC Marathi on Monday, “There is freedom of speech. We understand satire. But there should be a limit. This is like taking a ‘supari’ (contract) to speak against someone.” On the Shiv Sainiks vandalising the studio, Shinde said: “Action causes reaction. I will not speak much on this. I do not justify vandalism.” On Sunday night, Shiv Sena members damaged the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, where Kamra’s show took place, as well as a hotel in whose premises the club is located.

 

Police on Monday arrested Shiv Sena functionary Rahul Kanal and 11 others for ransacking the show venue. A Mumbai court granted them bail the same day. Kamra, whose video has garnered over 4.3 million views in just two days, in his statement on Monday night said: “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.”