Kunal Kamra row:
New Delhi: In response to the ongoing controversy surrounding Kunal Kamra, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasized that the right to freedom of expression should not be misused for personal attacks against individuals.
“Your freedom of expression should not serve as a means to launch personal assaults on others. Regrettably, some individuals are exploiting this freedom to deepen divisions within the country, treating it as an inherent entitlement,” Yogi Adityanath remarked during a podcast with journalist Smita Prakash.
The prominent BJP leader also addressed several other issues during his podcast appearance. He accused the Congress party of utilizing funds from George Soros to sway the outcome of last year’s Lok Sabha elections. Additionally, he criticized Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar for his alleged comments regarding amending the constitution to provide reservations for the Muslim community.
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Regarding the Kunal Kamra incident, the comedian recently sparked significant controversy during his performance at Habitat studio in ‘The UniContinental,’ where he directed a parody of the song ‘Bholi Si Surat’ at Eknath Shinde.
Kamra referred to the Deputy Chief Minister as ‘gaddar’ (traitor), alluding to Shinde’s rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray in 2022, which led to the collapse of his government and a split within the party.
Following the viral spread of the video, Shiv Sena supporters vandalized the venue, resulting in its temporary closure. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) also took action by demolishing part of the club in the wake of the incident.
On Monday night, Kamra released a statement asserting that he would not apologize for his comments. He defended the venue, clarifying that neither it nor any political party was involved in the content of his performance.
“Attacking a venue over a comedian’s remarks is as irrational as overturning a truck carrying tomatoes simply because you disliked the butter chicken served to you,” he stated in a post on his social media accounts.
The statement further indicated that he was unafraid of the backlash and would not retreat. The comedian expressed his willingness to cooperate with law enforcement and judicial authorities.
