Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking transit anticipatory bail after an FIR was registered against him in Mumbai. The FIR stems from remarks Kamra allegedly made about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a recent performance.
Controversial performance
The controversy began after Kamra’s show at the Habitat Comedy Club in Mumbai's Khar, where he made some controversial statements, calling Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde a "traitor" without naming him.Reacting to Kamra's video, Shiv Sena (Shinde) workers vandalised the venue where he had performed the gig. Shiv Sena workers also protested across Maharashtra, burning effigies of the comedian. Later, Mumbai Police also filed an FIR against Kamra.
Kamra refuses to apologise
After facing backlash for remarks made during his stand-up set, comedian Kunal Kamra had responded with a statement defending his freedom of expression. He said, “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, addressing political leaders targeting him, had added, “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.” He also addressed the vandalism at Habitat in his statement, writing, “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.”
Every action has a reaction: Shinde
Earlier this week, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that "every action has a reaction," in what was his first response to the controversy triggered by Kamra's comments against him.However, Shinde also said that he doesn’t support people taking the law into their hands, but added that "when someone makes objectionable remarks, people’s sentiments are hurt.” He reiterated that he doesn’t endorse "the bulldozer culture," but said that "people react when provoked.”
