Kunal Kamra used the term "gaddar" (traitor) to describe Eknath Shinde while satirising the 2022 Maharashtra political crisis that toppled Uddhav Thackeray's government.
Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has again attracted political attention after sharing a parody video ridiculing the recent violent row between BJP and NCP(SP) leaders outside the Maharashtra Assembly. The parody video, played to his controversial satirical version of "hum honge kamiyab", includes footage from the scrap between BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar's supporters and NCP (Sharad Pawar group) MLA Jitendra Awhad's group.
Kamra, who has often employed satire to target the political establishment, added images of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde to the video — a clear swipe at the ruling Mahayuti alliance. He titled the post "lawbreakers".
The physical showdown took place on Thursday, beginning with an angry verbal spat triggered by a comment weeks ago by Awhad. While he did not mention anyone's name, Awhad's "mangalsutra thief" taunt was seen generally as aimed at Padalkar.
The tension mounted further when both groups got into a physical fight outside the Assembly gates. Clips of the fight went viral very soon on social media, depicting MLAs and their supporters exchanging abuses and blows before the security personnel entered the scene.
After the fight, Jitendra Awhad went on X (formerly Twitter) to disclose that he had been receiving threats and abusive messages.
Yesterday, my supporters abused me verbally at the Legislative Assembly gate. I request that the former Speaker of the Assembly now give parliamentary recognition to this verbal abuse. And today, I received a mobile death threat. I was abused with abuse about my mother and sister. All of this in the Assembly. I want to test the state police administration if they will take any action or not," Awadh posted.
Gopichand Padalkar subsequently met Speaker Rahul Narwekar and top BJP leaders, calling the incident "unfortunate" and apologizing.
While this was happening, NCP(SP) MLA Rohit Pawar brought the matter to the floor of the Assembly, seeking action. Speaker Narwekar assured that a report had been sought on the incident and that necessary action would be initiated after a proper probe.
Kunal Kamra had previously ruffled some feathers in March at his stand-up comedy show Naya Bharat, where he altered "hum honge kamiyab" to "hum honge kangaal" (we will be bankrupt). He used the term "gaddar" (traitor) to describe Eknath Shinde while satirising the 2022 Maharashtra political crisis that toppled Uddhav Thackeray's government.
Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leaders responded with vandalism at Mumbai’s Habitat Comedy Club, where Kamra had recorded the show. Multiple cases were filed against him. While the Bombay High Court granted him protection from arrest, the investigation remains ongoing.
Kamra stood by his work, saying, "Your inability to take a joke at the expense of an influential public figure doesn't alter the character of my right. As far as I am aware, it isn't illegal to make jokes about our leaders and the circus of our political system."
