Comedian Kunal Kamra shared his statement on his social media handles amid the political slugfest over his ‘traitor’ jibe at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a performance. Kamra, writing on X and Instagram, refused to apologise for his remarks and said he will not bow down to the mob that’s targeting him.
“Our right to freedom of speech and expression is not only to be used to fawn over the powerful and rich even though today’s media would have us believe otherwise. Your inability to take a joke at the expense of a powerful public figure does not change the nature of my right,” Kamra wrote addressing political leaders targeting him, adding, “As far as I know, it is not against the law to poke fun at our leaders and the circus that is our political system”.
During his latest standup act Naya Bharat, Kamra featured a parody song that referred to Shinde leaving the Shiv Sena in 2022, using the term “gaddar (traitor)”. While Shiv Sena leaders claimed Kamra was running a ‘paid campaign’ against Shinde, party workers vandalised the Habitat Centre in Khar, Mumbai, where the event was held. An FIR has also been registered against him. Later on Monday, parts of the Habitat Centre were demolished by the BMC.
Kamra also addressed vandalism at the Habitat in his statement, writing, “An entertainment venue is merely a platform. A space for all sorts of shows. Habitat (or any other venue) is not responsible for my comedy, nor does it have any power or control over what I say or do. Neither does any political party. Attacking a venue for a comedian’s words is as senseless as overturning a lorry carrying tomatoes, because you didn’t like the butter chicken you were served.”
He also sent a message to trolls targeting him: “To those who are busy leaking my number or calling me incessantly: I am sure you’ve realised by now that all unknown calls go to my voicemail, where you will be subjected to the very song that you hate.”
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