‘Won’t apologise to Shinde but…’: Kunal Kamra on Eknath Shinde ‘Gaddar’ remark row

Comic Kunal Kamra, who is below fire for his ‘Gaddar (traitor)’ jibe, he it appears hurled at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde throughout a stand-up efficiency, has reportedly urged the Mumbai Police that he “won’t apologise” but will adhere to criminal court cases as mandated by the law.

Quoting sources, a file by India This day said Kamra assured the police officers that he would cooperate with the investigations, even when he used to be now not currently in Mumbai. The Mumbai Police has but danger any formal date soliciting for Kamra’s look for investigation.

Kunal Kamra calls Shinde ‘gaddar’

Controversial comic Kunal Kamra, who isn't very any stranger to controversies, stirred one more firestorm when he took a veiled dig at Eknath Shinde for defecting from the undivided Shiv Sena, breaking up the win collectively, and becoming a member of the BJP camp. In a novel stand-up comedy display, Naya Bharat, which aired on YouTube on Sunday, Kamra, with out without extend naming Shinde, known as the broken-down Maharashtra Chief Minister, ‘gaddar (traitor)’.

For the duration of the stand-up display, Kunal Kamra sang a spoof music of Dil To Pagal Hai, wherein he made remarks referring to the bodily look of “a drag-setter from Thane”, and his equation with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Kamra used to be allegedly relating to Eknath Shinde, but didn't explicitly name him.

After video of Kamra went viral on social media platforms, the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) filed a police grievance in opposition to him, whereas the outfit’s childhood hover, Shiv Sena Yuva Sena, vandalised the The Habitat studio where the display used to be filmed. Police has registered an FIR in opposition to Yuva Sena’s General Secretary Rahool Kanal and 19 others.

Thackeray defends Kamra

In the period in-between,  Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray threw his weight unhurried Kunal Kamra amid the controversy, inserting ahead that Kamra’s statements had been honest and reflective of public sentiment. “I don’t speak Kunal Kamra said something else wicked. Calling a ‘gaddar’ a ‘gaddar’ is now not an assault on anyone. Kunal Kamra has said the truth; he has expressed what of us feel,” Thackeray said.

Defending Kunal Kamra’s freedom of expression, Thackeray added, “He has said the truth, so there isn't very a interrogate of infringement of freedom of expression. Hear the fleshy music (from Kunal Kamra’s display) and produce others hear it too.”

Mumbai civic body bulldozes Mumbai studio

On Monday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation demolished the Habitat studio citing “violations”. An reliable of the Mumbai civic body said the immediate-term shed and different constructions comprising the studio, which used to be created in the basement of the Unicontinental resort, has been razed.

“It used to be eradicated as there isn't very a civic permission to fabricate a studio in the basement. The BMC will study the resort to speak if every thing is as per the allowed concept,” the reliable said.

Earlier in the day, Habitat Studio introduced they had been shutting down after Shiv Sena workers vandalised its premises. In an Instagram submit, the studio said, “We are petrified, panicked and extraordinarily broken by the novel acts of vandalism focusing on us.”

The studio said artists are “exclusively accountable for their views and inventive choices” and it has never been excited referring to the teach performed by them.

Fadnavis demands Kamra’s apology

In the period in-between, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has slammed Kunal Kamra’s remarks in opposition to Eknath Shinde, citing that such acts can’t be justified as “freedom of speech”. Fadnavis confused that whereas there may be freedom to develop stand-up comedy, it does now not lengthen to making “unchecked statements”.

He additional demanded that Kunal Kamra apologise.

“There may be freedom to full stand-up comedy, but he can't communicate whatever he wants. The of us of Maharashtra have made up our minds who the traitor is. Kunal Kamra should apologise. This can now not be tolerated,” he asserted.

Fadnavis criticised Kamra’s actions as an intentional attempt to defame Shinde, citing, “There may be the correct to comedy, but if it's being performed to defame our Deputy CM Eknath Shinde purposely, it's now not appropriate.”

(With inputs from agencies)