Shiv Sena workers vandalized the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar on Sunday in response to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra’s remarks on Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde in a recent YouTube video.
Shiv Sena’s Reaction
Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske strongly criticized Kamra, calling him a “hired comedian” who was paid to speak against their leader.
- “Kunal Kamra is making comments on our leader for some money. Let alone Maharashtra, he cannot freely go anywhere in India. Shiv Sainiks will show him his place,” Mhaske told ANI.
- He also targeted Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sanjay Raut, claiming they had no party workers left to criticize Shinde, so they hired people like Kamra.
Mhaske further asserted that Shiv Sena follows the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray and promised that Kamra would “get a befitting reply and be forced to apologize.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) Defends Kamra
On the other hand, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi supported Kamra, calling the attack an attempt to silence dissent.
- She posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Dear Kunal, Stand strong. The man & the gang you exposed will go after you & so will his bikau people, but do understand the residents of the state share this sentiment! And like Voltaire said— I will defend to death your right to speak your mind.”
Context & Aftermath
Kunal Kamra, known for his sharp political satire, had mocked Eknath Shinde’s leadership and political decisions in a recent YouTube video, which triggered the backlash.
The incident has escalated tensions between the ruling Shiv Sena faction and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), with free speech concerns being raised by opposition leaders.