Direct threats to Kunal from ministers, support on social media, then vandalism

#News Bureau March 25,2025

Kunal Kamra is facing direct threats from Maharashtra government ministers for his controversial jibe at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a stand-up show in Mumbai. Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra minister Gulab Raghunath Patil on Tuesday warned that if Kunal Kamra does not apologise, “we will talk to him in our own style.” “Shiv Sena will not spare him… We will not tolerate this insult… If he does not apologise, he will come out kabhi toh na, where will he hide? Shiv Sena will show its true colours,” Gulab Raghunath said while speaking to reporters.

Minister of State for Home Yogesh Ramdas Kadam also said on Tuesday that Kunal Kamra will be punished for his behaviour, calling his jibe “unacceptable”. “If you are going to insult the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister of India, Hindu deities, it is not tolerable. You cannot behave like this in Maharashtra or India… We enjoy comedy, but this is not the kind of comedy that will be tolerated in Maharashtra.”

The matter raised in Parliament
The Kunal Kamra controversy reached Parliament on Tuesday. Shiv Sena MP Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane demanded some rules for content and a ban on platforms promoting hate speech. During the discussion in the Lok Sabha, Mane said, ‘In the name of comedy, some people are trying to open their political shops. For the last two days, you must have seen that a joker is speaking against the Deputy Chief Minister. Through this House, I would like to say that there should be some rules. Instead of commenting on a person, if you speak on policies, it will be welcome. From here, someone writes a script and the comedian goes on stage and speaks it. I would like to demand that such platforms should be closed.’

On Monday, Kunal Kamra issued a statement on his official social media handle saying that he would not “apologize” for his taunt.

Social media is currently painted in the color of Kunal Kamra. Someone is wishing him to stay safe. Someone advised him to not worry about money and said, people will come after you. To deal with this, we will pay your bills. Be happy friend. With this, that user sent Kunal Kamra a donation of hundred dollars i.e. about eight and a half thousand in Indian currency. This user is not alone, there are many people who are worried about Kunal Kamra. The uproar after his show in Mumbai has raised a whole debate on freedom of speech in the country.

“You are hope! You are a revolutionary in my eyes! Stay safe my brother!” This comment is on comedian Kunal Kamra’s YouTube link. There are hundreds of such comments there which will bring tears to your eyes.
People are extremely angry with the way Kunal was attacked after he satirized Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. People from Shiv Sena’s Shinde group vandalized the studio after the show. BMC demolished the studio. Kunal was given all kinds of threats but the way people came out in his support on social media was unprecedented.

StandWithKunal started trending in support of Kamra. People were writing all kinds of things in his support. They were giving good arguments. For example, a social media handle wrote in opposition to the people questioning Kunal that “Who is abusing?”

The one who is speaking against the government or the one who is getting the studio demolished by goons?
The one who is questioning the government or the one who is openly threatening?

The one who is doing comedy or the one who is making fun of democracy?”

At the same time, another ex-user took a dig citing freedom of speech. That user wrote – “If Kunal Kamra’s comedy hurts your feelings, then the problem is not in his jokes but in your intolerance. Satire and criticism are not crimes in democracy – all these are signs of a healthy society.”

Even more heart-touching was the case on YouTube. People were writing in his support on X and Meta. On YouTube, people were sending huge amounts of money through ‘Super Chat’ on his live streams. His fans on YouTube openly started helping him financially. Hundreds of people sent him money in currencies of different countries. Donations were made from Indian rupees to dollars, euros and pounds. Some viewers even sent thousands of rupees. These supporters of Kamra have openly supported his freedom of speech or expression.

Many Twitter users wrote – “If the government is trying to weaken an artist financially to silence him, then the public will make him stronger.”

It is worth noting that this matter arose from that part of Kunal Kamra’s comedy show where he parodied the song of the film “Dil To Pagal Hai”. Referring to the politics of Maharashtra, he called a Thane politician a traitor without naming him. After this, the people of Shiv Sena Shinde group got angry. They said that this statement was made by ‘Eknath Shinde’.

After this, the leaders of Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) gave Kamra an ultimatum to apologize and threatened that if he did not apologize, he would have to leave the country. To which Kamra replied that he would neither apologize nor hide in shame. Late on Monday night, Kunal Kamra wrote a long post on social media on this controversy.

He clearly said – “I will not apologize! I am not afraid of this crowd. I will not disappear in shame until this matter cools down.” He also wrote that the words he said, the same words have also been said by Maharashtra’s other Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for Eknath Shinde. Kamra satirized the violence of Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) workers and wrote – “Attacking a studio for the words of a comedian is like overturning a truck carrying tomatoes because you did not like butter chicken.”

However, Shiv Sena Shinde Group leader Eknath Shinde also reacted to this. He defended his party supporters who were creating disturbance by saying that “every action has a reaction. There is a limit to everything. Kamra does comedy after taking money.” Shinde remained silent by calling the incidents of disturbance as a reaction. But the series of threats from his party continues.

By the time this news was written, Mumbai Police had sent a notice to Kamra. Also, a Shiv Sena Shinde group supporter who had demolished Habitat studio was granted bail by the court for his hooliganism. Shiv Sainiks of Shinde group were arrested late on Monday evening on charges of vandalism. But the BMC squad reached again on Tuesday to demolish a part of the studio.