Comedian Kamra booked for comments on Shinde; 12 held for ransacking venue

A row surrounding stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra’s latest act, especially his remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, roiled Maharashtra politics on Monday, and its echoes resonated in the national capital too.

 

Maharashtra Police on Monday booked Kamra for allegedly insulting Shinde, and arrested over a dozen workers of Shiv Sena Yuva Sena’s (Shinde Faction) for alleged vandalism.

 

On Sunday night, angry workers of Shinde-led Shiv Sena ransacked Habitat Studio and Unicontinental hotel -- where it is located and where Kamra filmed his show and called Shinde “traitor”.

 

Meanwhile, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished the temporary shed and other structures comprising the studio, which was created in the basement of the hotel, a civic official said.

 

 

“It was removed as there is no civic permission to create a studio in the basement,” the official said.

 

Earlier in the day, Habitat Studio announced they were shutting down after Shiv Sena workers vandalised its premises. In a previous post, Habitat Studio issued an apology to “all those hurt by this (Kamra’s) video”. 

Habitat Studio, where Kamra’s show was held, was also the venue for the filming of the recent controversial ‘India’s Got Latent’ show.

 

With Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray questioning the government for taking action against Kamra but sparing a Nagpur-based journalist for “insulting Maratha kings Chhatrapati Shivaji and Sambhaji”, the Maharashtra Police moved swiftly and arrested journalist Prashant Koratkar from Telangana.

 

Politicians in Maharashtra were divided on party lines. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis asked Kamra to apologise. Both the Houses of the state legislature were adjourned briefly where ruling coalition legislators protested Kamra’s remarks.

 

On the other hand, Shiv Sena (UBT’s) Uddhav Thackeray said Kamra merely expressed his views, stated facts and voiced public opinion. “Kamra hasn’t done anything wrong...These traitors don't see Solapurkar and Koratkar who insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” Thackeray said.

 

The Sena (UBT) leader was referring to protests in the state seeking the arrest of Nagpur-based journalist Prashant Koratkar and actor Rahul Solapurkar for their alleged objectionable remarks against Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

 

The Maharashtra Police later in the day arrested journalist Koratkar from Telangana. Koratkar had allegedly made objectionable comments during this conversation, which Sawant had posted on social media.

 

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray reminded the ruling coalition that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a recent podcast, said that criticism is an essential part of democracy.

 

“However, the behaviour of BJP’s ruling alliance partner is contradictory to what Modi said,” Aaditya said.

 

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said no one should violate the law and the Constitution, and must keep a check on what they say.

 

State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said the studio where the programme was shot was illegal.

 

In the national capital, meanwhile, several Opposition MPs criticised the ransacking of the venue of Kamra’s show. But Shinde-led Sena’s MPs described Kamra as a “paid agent”.

  Congress member Manickam Tagore said, “This is the new India under the rule of Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi where even if a comedy show is held, then the venue will be vandalised with the support of the local police.”

 

Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan said if there are restrictions on speaking, it would lead to a very bad situation.

 

“You would be told to speak just on this and nothing else.... Where is freedom of speech?” she asked.

 

(With inputs from PTI)