National: Comedian Kunal Kamra has publicly declared he will not retract or apologize for his comments directed at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, despite facing significant backlash and subsequent acts of vandalism.
The catalyst for this contentious situation was a recent YouTube video by Kamra, in which he made critical remarks about Shinde, leading to a strong reaction from Shiv Sena members. This escalated into an act of vandalism at the Habitat Centre in Mumbai on Sunday, March 24, with party workers targeting the venue for hosting Kamra’s performance.
In his response, Kamra defended the role of entertainment venues, asserting that they serve as neutral platforms and should not be held accountable for the content of a comedian’s act. He criticized the attack on the Habitat Centre, labeling it as a misplaced act of aggression.
“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. Attacking a venue for a comedian’s words is as senseless as overturning a lorry carrying tomatoes because you didn’t like the butter chicken you were served,” Kamra stated, maintaining his stance and refusing to back down from his original assertions.