Kunal Kamra Says Won't Apologise For Eknath Shinde Parody, But Will Adhere To The Law: Reports

Last Updated:March 24, 2025, 17:34 IST

Kunal Kamra stoked controversy with his "traitor" remark against Eknath Shinde, triggering massive protests by the Shiv Sena.

Kunal Kamra mocks Eknath Shinde (Photo: X/Kunal Kamra)

Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, who is at the centre of a controversy over apparent comments made against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at a recent performance, has told the police that he does not regret his actions and would not issue an apology despite facing massive backlash, according to at least two media reports on Monday.

Kamra, who has been a vocal critic of the Centre’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, called the influential politician a “traitor" in a Bollywood parody song on Maharashtra politics, triggering workers of Shinde’s Shiv Sena who vandalised the venue, inviting legal action, and sparking a big political debate over where freedom of expression ends and anarchy begins.

Kamra has told the police that he did not regret his remarks made during the show at Habitat studio in Mumbai’s Khar and would only apologise if instructed by courts, according to an NDTV report, soon after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanded his apology. India Today reported that Kamra, however, said that he will adhere to the law.

Kunal Kamra’s ‘Traitor’ Remark Against Eknath Shinde

During a comedy show, Kamra dubbed a parody song of a Hindi film and labelled Eknath Shinde a “traitor" for his 2022 rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government.

Weighing on the Maharashtra politics with a musical touch to song ‘Bholi Si Surat’, Kamra mocked Shinde and sang, “Meri nazar se tum dekho to gaddar nazar wo aaye. Haaye!"

As the clip went viral on Sunday evening, Shiv Sena warned of legal action and some of its workers vandalised the venue where the show was recorded. 12 party leaders were arrested but were later released on bail on Monday.

Fadnavis Reacts To Controversy

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that Kamra should apologise for his remarks and stressed that the Deputy CM was insulted. He also said that freedom of expression is encouraged but it should not lead to tyranny.

“A legal action will be taken according to the law, Kunal Kamra should apologise. Eknath Shinde ji has been insulted, and an attempt has been made to do so. This will not be tolerated. The elections have proven who the traitors are. No stand-up comedian should have the right to call such a big leader a traitor," he said.

“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," Fadnavis added.

Uddhav Backs Kamra

Extending support to Kamra amid backlash, Uddhav Thackeray said that calling “traitor a traitor is not wrong".

“I don’t think Kunal Kamra said anything wrong. Calling a ‘gaddar‘, a ‘gaddar‘ is not an attack on anyone. Hear the full song (from Kunal Kamra’s show) and make others hear it too. Shiv Sena has nothing to do with this attack, this has been done by the ‘gaddar sena‘…Those who have ‘gaddari‘ in their blood can never be a Shiv Sainik," he told reporters.

News india Kunal Kamra Says Won't Apologise For Eknath Shinde Parody, But Will Adhere To The Law: Reports