Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 24 : Reacting to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra's remarks on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Minister of State for home Yogesh Ramdas Kadam on Monday stated that while the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, it does not grant the right to insult those holding constitutional positions.
"The Constitution has provided freedom of speech. It doesn't give you the right to insult those occupying Constitutional positions," Maharashtra MoS Home said.
On the vandalism of Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, he asserted, "Whatever action is required will be taken."
Earlier, Shiv Sena Yuva Sena (Shinde faction) General Secretary Rahool Kanal gave a strong message to stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra for his comments on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and said that "Abhi tak toh ye trailer hai, picture abhi baki hai."
"It is not about taking any law into your hands. It is purely about your self-respect. When it comes to elders or respectable citizens of the country... when your elders are targeted, you will target someone of that mentality... The message (for Kunal Kamra) is clear, 'Abhi tak toh ye trailer hai, picture abhi baki hai.' Whenever you are in Mumbai, you will get a good lesson in Shiv Sena style," he said.
After an FIR was registered against him and his party workers, Kanal said that they would teach Kunal Kamra a lesson.
"We had complained; we had also called the owner (of the Habitat set) and told him that there had been 6 FIRs against this place in the past... Our message for Kunal Kamra is that we will teach him a lesson for what he did, but this is a paid conspiracy, and the Mumbai police is capable of exposing it," he added.
According to Sub inspector Vijay of Khar police station, the Shinde Sena's youth faction entered the venue while a live show of standup comedian Rajat Sood was going on, forced the show to be closed down and vandalized the set.
An FIR has been registered under Sections 132, 189(2), 189(3), 190, 191(2), 324(5), 324(6), 223, 351(2), 352, 333, 37(1), and 135 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and also under sections 37 (1) and 135 under the Maharashtra Police Act.
This incident comes amidst the Shinde Sena leaders objecting to Kunal Kamra's new standup special, alleging that the latter has "mocked" Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.