Police in India’s Mumbai city arrested 11 members of the Yuva Sena, the youth wing of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena (a right-wing Marathi regionalist Hindutva-based political party in India), on Monday for vandalizing the Habitat comedy venue.
The incident occurred during a live performance by comedian Rajat Sood, as the group protested remarks made by stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra in his recent comedy special, Naya Bharat, uploaded on YouTube.
According to the police, the protesters entered the venue, halting the live show and causing damage to the property. The protest was fueled by allegations that Kamra’s remarks in the special were derogatory and offensive.
Shiv Sena Objects to Kamra’s Comments
Shiv Sena (UBT) has strongly objected to Kamra’s comments, with opposition leaders in Maharashtra criticizing the state government for a breakdown in law and order. Arvind Sawant of the UBT stated that “every word spoken by Kamra is correct” and defended the comedian’s right to express his views. Sawant emphasized that Kamra’s remarks should be respected in a democratic country.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra opposition has condemned the incident, calling the government’s response inadequate. Sawant further drew comparisons with past political satire, referring to the works of late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, who famously used caricatures to criticize prominent political figures. Sawant questioned if today’s society would have filed multiple FIRs against Thackeray had he been alive today.
FIRs Filed Against Protestors and Kunal Kamra
An FIR has been filed against the 11 arrested individuals, who face charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Sections 132, 189(2), 189(3), 190, 191(2), 324(5), 324(6), 223, 351(2), 352, 333, 37(1), and 135 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Additionally, they are charged under Sections 37(1) and 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act for disrupting the peace.
An FIR has also been registered against Kunal Kamra for his alleged derogatory remarks, though Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sawant has defended Kamra’s freedom of expression.
Sanjay Nirupam’s Allegations Against Matoshree
Shinde Sena’s Sanjay Nirupam has alleged that the booking for Kamra’s show was funded by Matoshree, the residence of former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. “The booking money for this show came from Matoshree, which is why Eknath Shinde has been targeted,” Nirupam said in a press conference in Mumbai. He also suggested that Kamra was aligned with the “Rahul Gandhi and Congress ecosystem,” further escalating the political tensions surrounding the incident.
The controversy surrounding the incident is ongoing, with both political sides continuing to clash over Kamra’s remarks and the response to the protest.
