MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday reacted to the furore surrounding stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra's alleged defamatory remarks against deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, calling it a "reckless" misuse of the freedom of speech.
"When you attack the freedom of others, your freedom is restricted. If you insult people on constitutional posts to create disturbances by taking supari (contract) to get publicity, it will not be tolerated. No one will object to stand-up comedy and satire. If we behave recklessly in the garb of freedom of speech and expression, it will not be tolerated. Strict action will be taken as per law," the CM said.
Speaking in the state assembly after the issue figured in the House, Fadnavis said Kamra has a history of making low-level comments on the prime minister, Chief Justice of India and the judiciary.
"His modus operandi is to create a controversy for publicity," the chief minister said.
Fadnavis said Kamra has now targeted Deputy CM and Shiv Sena leader Shinde, and the people of Maharashtra showed through the 2024 assembly polls mandate that who is "khuddar" (self-respecting) and who is "gaddar" (traitor).
"Is Kamra bigger than the people of Maharashtra?" he asked.
The people of Maharashtra have shown that Shinde is the true inheritor of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray's ideology.
"Kamra's aim was to belittle Shinde in the eyes of the people. The opposition is supporting such a talk and one wonders whether Kamra is hand-in-glove with the opposition. He has posted a picture of himself with a red copy of the Constitution book which Rahul Gandhi carries," Fadnavis said.
A mob led by workers of Shinde-led Shiv Sena vandalised the Habitat Comedy club in Continental Hotel at Khar taking objection to Kamra's remarks. Shiv Sena also filed a police case against the stand-up comedian.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena functionary Rahul Kanal and 11 others were arrested by the Mumbai police on Monday for ransacking the venue.
CM Devendra Fadnavis had earlier today demanded an apology from the comedian for "insulting" Shinde.
"The Constitution says when you attack others' freedom, your own freedom is restricted. He (Kamra) cannot encroach over anyone’s freedom. Therefore, we demand an apology from him,” CM Fadnavis said.
Spaking about the, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray stated, "I don't believe Kunal Kamra said anything wrong. Calling a 'gaddar' (traitor) exactly that is not an attack on anyone. Listen to the full song from Kamra's show and share it with others. Shiv Sena has no connection to this attack—this was done by the 'gaddar sena.' Those who have betrayal in their blood can never be true Shiv Sainiks."
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray condemned the "cowardly gang" responsible for vandalizing a comedy venue over remarks made by comedian Kunal Kamra, allegedly targeting Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
In a post on X, referring to Shinde as ‘Mindhe,’ he wrote, “Mindhe’s coward gang destroys the comedy show stage after @kunalkamra88 performed a song about Eknath Mindhe that was 100% true. Only an insecure coward would react to a song. By the way, where is law and order in the state? Yet another attempt by Eknath Mindhe to undermine the CM and Home Minister.”
