Devendra Fadnavis seeks apology from Kunal Kamra over comments against Eknath Shinde

At a comedy programme in The Habitat in The UniContinental hotel in Khar suburbs of Mumbai, Kamra likened Shinde as a “gaddar” (traitor) in a parody version of a Hindi song from the movie 'Dil To Pagal Hai'.

Mumbai: Amid the controversy involving Kunal Kamra’s criticism of Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the comments of the stand-up comedian were in bad taste and sought an apology.

"Kunal Kamra has displayed the same red colour Constitution book often shown by (Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader) Rahul Gandhi. Both of them have not read the Constitution,” Fadnavis told reporters in the Vidhan Bhavan complex at Nariman Point in Mumbai.

At a comedy programme in The Habitat in The UniContinental hotel in Khar suburbs of Mumbai, Kunal Kamra likened Shinde as “gaddar” (traitor) - as he used a parody version of a Hindi song from the movie Dil To Pagal Hai.

After the 2022 split in the Shiv Sena, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) targeted Shinde, a former Chief Minister and ex-Leader of the Opposition, as "gaddar”.

"There is freedom to do stand-up comedy, but he cannot speak whatever he wants. The people of Maharashtra have decided who the traitor is. Kunal Kamra should apologise. This will not be tolerated. There is the right to comedy, but if it is being done to defame our Shinde purposely, it is not right,” said Fadnavis, who is also the state Home Minister and Law & Judiciary Minister.

“A legal action will be taken according to the law, Kunal Kamra should apologise,” he said.

“In the 2024 elections, people have shown who is “gaddar” and who is “khuddar”…Shinde Saheb represents the ideology of (late Shiv Sena founder) Balasaheb Thackeray,” he said, adding that through the references Shinde has been “insulted”.

“One may create humour, but making derogatory statements cannot be accepted. One cannot encroach on others' freedom and ideology. This cannot be justified as the Freedom of speech…this is what the Constitution states,” the CM said.