Row over Kunal Kamra’s remarks: ‘Contract-based smear campaigns’ won’t make any difference to me, says Shinde

Kamra, in a standup show, had taken a jibe at Shiv Sena chief Shinde referring to him as a “gaddar” (traitor) following which an FIR for defamation was registered against the comedian Monday

Written by Vallabh Ozarkar

Mumbai | Updated: March 27, 2025 05:58 AM IST

3 min read

Kunal Kamra, in a standup show, had taken a jibe at Shiv Sena chief Shinde referring to him as a “gaddar” (traitor).

Amid the controversy over standup comedian Kunal Kamra’s remarks against Eknath Shinde, the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister on Wednesday said that “contract-based smear campaigns” will not make any difference to him.

Kamra, in a standup show, had taken a jibe at Shiv Sena chief Shinde referring to him as a “gaddar” (traitor) following which an FIR for defamation was registered against the comedian Monday. Shiv Sena workers had vandalised the Habitat studio where the standup show was shot, with 12 of them being arrested and later released on bail.

The Opposition Sena UBT led by Uddhav Thackeray had backed Kamra over the incident. Speaking at the Legislative Council, Shinde said, “No matter how many contract-based smear campaigns are launched against me, it will not make any difference. It is unfortunate that these people ( referring to Sena UBT) are taking support from some hypocrites (like Kunal Kamra) to target me. Let them keep calling ‘gaddar’ again and again. But one day, they will to have shut their party.”

“I thought they (Sena UBT) must have realised the reality after the mandate give by the people in the (Assembly) polls. The verdict given by The Election Commission, the Supreme Court and the Assembly Speaker have decided who the traitors are but they still do not understand the reality,” he added.

He further assured that the government will fulfill the promises made in the elections. “Our word is the saffron line on the black stone… The government has not scrapped any scheme. Our government is progressive and prosperous and not like the previous one (of Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA),” he said.

Also Read | Why Shiv Sena’s return to old playbook in Kamra row signals Shinde muscle flexing

Shinde further hit back at the Ppposition for criticising the government on the freedom of expression and asked them, especially Sena UBT, to introspect and accused it of curbing freedom of expression during the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) tenure.

“Where was the Constitution when you got angry due to Malishka’s song ( radio jockey Malishka Mendonsa had released a video criticising the BMC over Mumbai’s pothole)? You committed the sin of throwing the Rana couple (BJP’s Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana) inside jail when they recited Hanuman Chalisa. Where was the Constitution when you plotted to throw many people including Devendra ji (CM Devendra Fadnavis) in jail by implicating him in false cases? Where was your Constitution when you planted bombs around the houses of industrialists? Where was the Constitution when you said that Waze (dismissed police officer Sachin Waze) is not a terrorist?,” he questioned the Opposition.

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