An FIR has been registered against Shiv Sena Yuva Sena General Secretary Rahool Kanal and 19 others for vandalising the Habitat stand-up comedy set
Team Clarion
MUMBAI – India Habitat Studio was vandalised on Sunday allegedly by members of Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde group) after comedian Kunal Kumra in his show ridiculed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the split of the Shiv Sena.
Kamra, known for his political comedy, released a video of his show on Sunday indirectly taking a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, its allies and others.
Shinde supporters were enraged after Kamra performed a parody of a popular Hindi song from “Dil To Pagal Hai,” referring to Shinde as a “gaddar” (traitor).
He also made jokes about recent political developments in Maharashtra, including splits in Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
“Meri nazar se tum dekho to gaddar nazar wo aaye. Haaye,” Kunal Kamra said during his show. “Shiv Sena first came out of the BJP, then Shiv Sena came out of Shiv Sena. NCP came out of NCP, they gave nine buttons to one voter… everyone got confused,” he added.
The comedian also poked subtle fun at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He was cautious not to take their names.
He also took a swipe at Ola CEO Bhavish Agarwal after the former confronted the business honcho about the poor quality of the two-wheeler manufactured by his company.
Shinde supporters reacted violently and vandalised the studio. Some video clips showing the attack and the resultant wreckage have gone viral on social media. Mobs can be seen breaking chairs and other items in the video.
Recounting the vandalism, an eyewitness said “I was attending a comedy show at Habitat tonight. We were ushered out 30 minutes earlier. Was told some people broke one floor of the venue.”
An FIR has been registered against Shiv Sena Yuva Sena General Secretary Rahool Kanal and 19 others for vandalising the Habitat stand-up comedy set under various sections of the BNS and Maharashtra Police Act.
In a statement, the Habitat Studio expressed shock over the incident and announced a temporary shutdown of the studio.
“We are shocked, worried, and extremely broken by the recent acts of vandalism targeting us. Artists are solely responsible for their views and creative choices,” reads the statement.
“We are shutting down until we figure out the best way to provide a platform for free expression without putting ourselves and our property in jeopardy. We invite all artists, audiences, and stakeholders to discuss and share their views freely and request your guidance so that we also respect the performers’ rights,” it added.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that the vandalism of the studio and Kamra’s office is hooliganism.
“I have known Kunal Kamra since long… he used to comment on us in a similar way. However, I believe that there is freedom of speech. If there is no personal comment, then that should be accepted. If the comment is on any political line of thought, then it should be accepted. This is the beauty of our country’s democracy. Kunal Kamra’s office, and studio were vandalised… this is hooliganism,” said Raut.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the comments made by Kamra were in a bad state and he should apologise.
“Kunal Kamra has displayed the same red colour Constitution book often shown by (Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader) Rahul Gandhi. Both of them have not read the Constitution,” Fadnavis told reporters in the Vidhan Bhavan complex at Nariman Point in Mumbai.
“There is freedom to do stand-up comedy, but he cannot speak whatever he wants. The people of Maharashtra have decided who the traitor is. Kunal Kamra should apologise. This will not be tolerated. There is the right to comedy, but if it is being done to defame our Shinde purposely, it is not right,” said Fadnavis, who is also the state Home Minister and Law & Judiciary Minister.
“A legal action will be taken according to the law. Kunal Kamra should apologise,” he said.
Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel filed an FIR against Kamra and issued an ultimatum, demanding an apology within two days. Patel threatened to restrict Kamra’s movement in Mumbai and promised to raise the issue in the assembly.
