Indian comedian Kunal Kamra stated that he would not apologize for his act criticizing a politician allied with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, even after an investigation accusing him of defamation was launched. Kamra, one of India’s leading comedians, said in a post shared on social media that he does not fear the backlash and will not hide.

Kamra performed a skit in which he called Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde a “traitor,” which caused controversy. Supporters of Shinde’s Shiv Sena party attacked the venue where Kamra performed, although he was not present. Shinde is part of the faction of the Shiv Sena party that is allied with Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, and the two parties form a coalition ruling the state of Maharashtra.

The “traitor” remark referenced Shinde’s switch of political allegiances in 2022, which led to a political crisis and the resignation of then-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Shinde took over the seat, and Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, stated that while freedom of expression is respected, recklessness will not be tolerated. Mumbai police opened an investigation into Kamra following a complaint from the party, alleging defamation. The performance venue, The Habitat, announced that it would close after the incident, and the city’s civic authority later demolished the venue for lacking necessary permissions.

Kamra emphasized the right to freedom of speech and expression in his statement. This is not the first time comedians have been targeted for making fun of politicians or making references to the Hindu religion. In 2021, a Muslim comedian was arrested and imprisoned for over a month for making fun of Hindu gods and goddesses.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/india-comedian-kunal-kamra-refuses-to-apologize-for-skit/a-72024868?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf