Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde has broken his silence on the controversy surrounding comedian Kunal Kamra's 'traitor' jibe by stating that he had been at the receiving end of such allegations from the first day of government formation but, people, who gave him a stunning victory, knew who the real traitor was.
Shinde, who maintained a stoic silence after the video in which Kamra was seen making a 'traitor' jibe at Shinde went viral, opened up to BBC Marathi on Monday evening.
"I don't usually react to allegations. I have been facing these charges from the day I formed the government about two-and-a-half years ago. If the people have given us a mandate despite these accusations of stealing the party and bow and arrow symbol, it shows who the real traitor and self-serving individual was," he clarified, adding that "people have sent the accusers home and gave power to those who worked for them."
The Deputy Chief Minister, who broke ranks with Uddhav Thackeray in 2022 to align with the BJP, said Kamra misused his freedom of expression. "Freedom of expression is fine, but if you are going to misuse it, then it becomes tyranny. Look at what he said about the Chief Justice, the Prime Minister, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and many other industrialists. This is not freedom of expression. I have not spoken on this all day and I will not speak again," Shinde added.
On Shiv Sena activists ransacking The Habitat hotel where the show was held, Shinde said he never supported vandalism. "I have a lot of endurance. But, the activists don't. I never react to anyone as I consider it right to be calm and focus on my work. This is what makes us so successful," Shinde said.
Comedian Kunal Kamra issued a statement after the backlash that erupted as a result of his remarks on Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. pic.twitter.com/LKfqDgHXEu
— ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2025
Meanwhile, Kamra said he would not apologise for his comments about Shinde and criticised the vandalism of the venue in Mumbai where the comedy show was recorded.
"I will not apologise... I don't fear this mob & I will not be hiding under my bed, waiting for this to die down," Kamra wrote on X. "To the Mob That Decided That Habitat Should Not Stand: 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."
He also called out politicians who threatened him to state that their "inability to take a joke at the expense of a powerful public figure does not change the nature of my right."
"Bur political system. However, I am willing to cooperate with the police and courts for any lawful action taken against me. "But will the law be fairly and equally deployed against those who have decided that vandalism is the appropriate response to being offended by a joke?" he added.
