Comedian Kunal Kamra remains resolute and unrepentant amid the ongoing controversy surrounding his jokes about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. In his first public statement regarding the matter, Kamra condemned the vandalism that occurred at the Mumbai venue where his comedy show was filmed.

The 36-year-old comedian has ignited significant political backlash in Maharashtra by poking fun at Shinde's political journey through a parody of a well-known Hindi film song.

Kunal Kamra stands firm

On Monday evening, Kamra took to social media to issue a detailed statement, denouncing those who have doxxed him and shared his personal information, while firmly asserting that he will not retract his comments.

“I will not apologise... I do not fear this mob, and I will not retreat into hiding, waiting for this situation to pass,” Kamra stated, further noting that his remarks echoed what “Mr. Ajit Pawar (1st Deputy CM) said about Mr. Eknath Shinde (2nd Deputy CM).”

Kamra slams Habitat's vandalism

On Sunday evening, members of the Shiv Sena vandalized the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, the venue for Kamra's performance. Kamra described the destruction of the venue as “senseless,” likening it to someone tipping over a truck full of tomatoes simply because they were dissatisfied with the butter chicken they received.

“To the Mob That Decided That Habitat Should Not Stand: An entertainment venue serves solely as a platform. It is a space for various performances. Habitat, like any other venue, bears no responsibility for my comedy, nor does it exert any influence over my words or actions. This also applies to any political party,” Kamra's statement continued.

Officials from Mumbai's civic authority, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), inspected the damaged venue and reported that they had demolished a temporary structure located in the hotel's open area. In his remarks, Kamra criticized the BMC for dismantling the site without prior notification. He humorously suggested that for his next performance, he might consider “Elphinstone bridge, or any other structure in Mumbai” that requires urgent demolition.

‘It is not illegal to mock leaders’

The comedian also addressed his right to freedom of speech and expression, calling out "politicians who threaten to teach him a lesson."

Kamra stated, “Your inability to appreciate a joke at the expense of a prominent public figure does not alter my rights. To my knowledge, it is not against the law to make fun of our leaders and the farce that is our political system. I am prepared to cooperate with law enforcement and the judiciary regarding any legal actions taken against me. However, will the law be applied fairly and equally to those who believe that vandalism is an acceptable reaction to being offended by a joke?”

What is the controversy about

During his stand-up performance, Kamra humorously imitated a well-known Hindi song from the movie Dil Toh Pagal Hai, seemingly labelling Shinde as a "gaddar" (traitor). He also made light of recent political events in Maharashtra, particularly the divisions within the Shiv Sena and NCP.

Footage from his comedy show and the ensuing political controversy captured significant media attention on Monday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis remarked that Kamra should apologize for his "low-level comedy," while opposition leader Uddhav Thackeray defended the comedian's remarks as unproblematic. The Congress and CPI (M) also expressed their support for Kamra.

On Monday, police apprehended Shiv Sena member Rahul Kanal along with 11 others for vandalizing the venue of the show. A local court granted them bail on the same day.

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