'Will Cut You Into Pieces': Kunal Kamra Gets Hundreds Of Threat Calls After Eknath Shinde Joke
The claims come a day after Congress leader Supriya Shrinate shared an audio clip in which standup comedian Kunal Kamra is purportedly being threatened by a Shiv Sena worker that he will be thrashed "wherever he's found"
Standup comedian Kunal Kamra has received numerous death threats for allegedly defaming Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, sources close to him said. He has received “at least 500 calls" from Shiv Sainiks, who have threatened to “cut him into pieces", they said.
These claims come a day after Congress leader Supriya Shrinate shared an 53-second audio clip in which Kamra is purportedly being threatened by a Shiv Sena worker that he will be thrashed “wherever he’s found".
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The 36-year-old comedian has kicked up a row with his “traitor" jibe at Shinde, an apparent reference to the 2022 Shiv Sena split, during his show recorded at a studio in the basement of a hotel in Mumbai. The remarks and parody song invited violent reaction from Shiv Sena workers who on Sunday (March 23) vandalised the studio.
On Tuesday, Mumbai Police, which had booked Kamra on a complaint of a Shiv Sena MLA for allegedly making defamatory remarks, issued a notice seeking his personal appearance. But, his lawyer contacted the police and asked for a week’s time for him to appear.
“Kunal was summoned to record his statement, but he did not show up. Further action will be taken after taking legal opinion," Mumbai Police said.
Police also registered a case against 40 Shiv Sena workers for vandalising the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar and arrested 12 workers on Monday (March 24). A local court granted them bail the same day.
Kamra has refused to apologise for his controversial comments about the Shiv Sena chief, while taking another swipe at the party by posting a fresh parody video on his social media accounts. Modifying the Hindi translation of We Shall Overcome, he exchanged the lyrics Hum Honge Kamyab with Hum Honge Kangal (We will be paupers). The video was interspersed with visuals of the vandalism at the venue where the comedy sketch was recorded.
Earlier in the day, Shinde reacted to the controversy and likened Kamra’s jibe at him to taking “supari" (contract) to speak against someone, and said there should be a decorum while making a satire, otherwise the “action causes a reaction". He said freedom of speech is there, but there should be a limit.
“Freedom of speech is there. We understand satire. But there should be a limit. This is like taking ‘supari’ (contract) to speak against someone," he said at a BBC Marathi event.
On the Shiv Sainiks vandalising the studio where Kamra had performed and made those remarks, Shinde said the other person should also maintain a certain level. “Otherwise, action causes reaction," he said. “I will not speak much on this. I do not justify vandalism."
He added: “This same person (Kamra) had commented on the Supreme Court of India, the Prime Minister, (journalist) Arnab Goswami and some industrialists. This is not freedom of speech; this is working for someone."
Reacting to the issue, his colleague and Mahayuti ally Ajit Pawar said: “Our CM Devendra Fadnavis had responded on this issue on behalf of the government… Our CM has said that action will be taken as per the law."
(With inputs from Yesha Kotak)
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