Mumbai: After the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar was vandalized, Mumbai Youth Congress President Akhilesh Yadav demanded that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis resign. The incident happened as a result of stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra’s recent YouTube video comments about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Yadav on Monday denounced the vandalism in a self-produced video and promised to restore the Khar Habitat Comedy Club, where Kamra’s performance was shot.
What actions are the Maharashtra Home Minister and Mumbai Police taking in response to the events that are taking place in Mumbai today? How did they know that Kunal Kamra was referring to their commander when he didn’t even mention names? “It is unacceptable that the studio was vandalized,” Yadav said.
“Neither Mumbai nor Maharashtra has this culture… If Devendra Fadnavis is unable to manage such circumstances, he needs to step down. The vandalized studio will be renovated by the Mumbai Youth Congress,” he said. Following Kamra’s comments on Eknath Shinde on Sunday, Shiv Sena members vandalized the Mumbai location.
In the meanwhile, stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra said that he would not “apologize” for his performance in a statement posted on his official social media account.
An entertainment venue is just a platform and is not “responsible” for Kamra’s humor, he said in response to the current controversy over his comments regarding Eknath Shinde in his most recent YouTube video.
“A place for entertainment is just a stage. A venue hosting a variety of performances. Habitat (or any other location) has no authority over my words or actions, nor is it accountable for my humor. No political party does either. According to Kamra’s comments, “attacking a venue because of a comedian’s remarks is as stupid as destroying a truck full of tomatoes because you didn’t like the butter chicken you were served.”
Kamra’s official statement also included his response to political leaders who were ‘threatening’ to discipline him. The ‘inability to enjoy a joke at the expense of a strong public person does not undermine’ the essence of his freedom, according to Kamra. As far as he is aware, that is not illegal, he continued.
“Despite what the media of today would have us think, we have the right to free speech and expression for purposes other than swooning over the wealthy and powerful. The essence of my right remains unaltered by your incapacity to accept a joke that disparages a well-known public person. As far as I’m aware, making fun of our politicians and the circus that is our political system is legal,” Kunal Kamra said in his speech.
The stand-up comedian made it clear that he is “willing” to assist law enforcement and other authorities in any legitimate action against him. But he also questioned if “those who have decided that vandalism is the appropriate response to being offended by a joke will be fairly and equally deployed by the law.”
“But if the police or courts take legal action against me, I’m ready to assist them. Will the law, however, be applied equally and equitably to those who believe that vandalism is the proper reaction to a joke that offends them? And against the BMC’s unelected members who showed up to Habitat today without warning and used hammers to tear the building down? Elphinstone Bridge or any other building in Mumbai that needs immediate destruction can be my next location, the message said.
“I’m sure you’ve realized by now that all unknown calls go to my voicemail, where you will be exposed to the same music you detest if you’re busy leaking my number or phoning me nonstop. To the media outlets that are dutifully covering this circus: Keep in mind that India’s press freedom rating is 159. I’m not going to apologize. Mr. Ajit Pawar, the first deputy chief minister, stated precisely what I mentioned about Mr. Eknath Shinde, the second deputy chief minister. The message said, “I don’t fear this mob and I won’t be hiding under my bed, waiting for this to stop.”
