'Won't Tolerate This': CM Fadnavis On Kunal Kamara Row. Top Updates

Aligarh News March 24, 2025

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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned comedian Kunal Kamra's remark on Deputy CM Shinde, calling for an apology and legal action.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday reacted to the controversy over comedian Kunal Kamra's remark on Deputy CM Eknath Shinde.

Fadnavis said the comedian should apologise for his behaviour adding that action will be taken against him as per law.

“Everyone has a right to perform stand-up comedy. But freedom should not be unrestrained behaviour. Kamra should apologize for his behaviour. The insult of leaders cannot be tolerated. Action will be taken against him as per the law," said the CM.

Kamra courted a controversy after he took a jibe at Shinde for splitting the party and aligning with the Bharatiya Janata Party. His remark invoked a sharp reaction from Shiv Sena party workers who ransacked the venue where Kamra performed. An FIR has also been registered by the police against the comedian.

Maharashtra Home Minister Yogesh Kadam said the police are actively working to trace Kamra in connection with the incident.

VIDEO | Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) speaks on the stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra controversy.

"The way stand-up comedian (Kunal) Kamra tried to humiliate Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde is wrong. We condemn this. Such things can't be tolerated. Kamra… pic.twitter.com/NdZREORQ7k
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 24, 2025

Kamra-Shinde Row: Top Points

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar also addressed the controversy stressing the importance of adhering to legal boundaries. "I have seen that. Nobody should go beyond the law, Constitution, and rules. They should express themselves within their rights," Pawar said.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have condemned the vandalism and slammed the ruling Mahayuti government in Maharashtra over it.
"That person didn't mention anyone's name. Otherwise, legal action could have been taken. But breaking into someone's home to vandalise it is hooliganism," said Congress MP Pramod Tiwari.
"The public is paying the price of the internal conflict in BJP's Maharashtra government... This is fascism and dictatorship," he added.
The Shiv Sena had attacked Uddhav faction over Kamra's remark claiming that there are no leaders left in Shiv Sena (UBT), so they are making the comedian a leader.
Responding to the remark, Uddhav Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said, "Before 2014, the same Kunal Kamra and other stand-up comedians used to roast and create humour regularly... How shameful is it that you are destroying the space for humour in this country just because you don't like political comedy? Shameful"
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said he became aware of the comedian when he started criticising him, adding he believed in freedom of expression. "If criticism is directed at political ideologies rather than personal attacks, it should be accepted," he said.
The Habitat Studio which has been a preferred venue for stand-up comedy shows has announced that it is shutting down the premises after the vandalism. In a statement it said it has decided to shut down "till we figure out the best way to provide a platform for free expression without putting ourselves and our property in jeopardy".