​No country for comedy: on stand-up comedian and Maharashtra  

The violent reaction to comedian Kunal Kamra’s satirical remark about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is not merely a sign of rising intolerance — it also highlights how such intolerance can escalate beyond police cases into acts of vandalism and open intimidation, aimed at asserting political dominance. Mr. Kamra’s use of the word ‘gaddar (traitor’) in a parody of a Hindi film song, seemingly targeting an unnamed politician’s rise, has reportedly offended Mr. Shinde’s supporters and other Shiv Sena members. In a bizarre act of misplaced retaliation, a group attacked ‘Habitat’, the studio where Mr. Kamra had performed — an attempt to impose vicarious liability on the venue instead of the artist. The Mumbai police booked Mr. Kamra under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to promoting enmity and causing public mischief, as well as defamation. However, it is well-established that defamation charges can only be initiated by the aggrieved party, and not by the police. In a now-familiar display of power being weaponised, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) conveniently discovered unauthorised structures outside the venue and demolished them, continuing to probe for further “irregularities”. The first information report against Mr. Kamra appears to be a clear misuse of laws meant to address divisive speech. It essentially criminalises satire directed at a public figure’s political actions. Politicians being labelled as traitors or turncoats after switching parties is hardly new — ironically, Ajit Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party, who once used the same term, now serves alongside Mr. Shinde as Deputy Chief Minister.

The Maharashtra government is now demanding a public apology from Mr. Kamra, which he has refused, though he has expressed his willingness to cooperate with any lawful investigation. It is incumbent upon the State government to ensure its actions remain within legal bounds and not appear as arbitrary retaliations. While it is commendable that a few Shiv Sena members have been booked for the vandalism, the case must be pursued to its logical end. The invocation of “hurt sentiments” to justify violent loyalty has gone too far. Increasingly, such claims are being used to legitimise mob attacks, undermining the free and open space essential for democratic discourse.