Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray showed his support for stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra amid a massive controversy over the latter's "traitor" jibe at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Without making any attempt to sugar-coat his words, Thackeray said a "traitor is a traitor".
"I don't think Kunal Kamra has done any wrong. A traitor is a traitor," the former Maharashtra Chief Minister told reporters in Hindi.
Echoing his son and Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, the 60-year-old called out "some cowards" for feeling their leader was insulted.
"The damage done by ransacking the studio by these cowards should be compensated by the government just the way the damage will be incurred by miscreants in Nagpur violence," Uddhav Thackeray said.
Referencing the recent alleged objectionable remarks by journalist Prashant Koratkar and actor Rahul Solapurkar against Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the senior Thackeray said the Sena-BJP leaders could not "see their insult".
The political storm over Kamra's joke continues to escalate, with Sena workers openly threatening the comedian. In a message to Kamra, Rahool Kanal, one of 11 workers arrested in the vandalism of Mumbai's Habitat Studio and a hotel amid the joke row, warned that the incident was merely a trailer.
While the Shinde Sena has vehemently slammed Kunal Kamra for his remarks, with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding an apology, there has been complete silence from their side on the ransacking of the studio and hotel.
Fadnavis said no defamatory remarks against leaders would be tolerated, while likening Kamra's X post with the Constitution book to that of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha poll campaign tool. NCP's Ajit Pawar, who shares the Deputy Chief Minister post with Shinde, also said that individuals should "speak within their rights".
The Shinde Sena has filed an FIR against Kamra, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjay Raut and Aaditya Thackeray, and Rahul Gandhi.
Source: India Today