Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has strongly criticized stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra over his alleged derogatory remarks about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Responding to a comparison between the 2020 demolition of her office by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the recent vandalism of a studio where Kamra performed, Kangana differentiated between the two incidents.
“What happened to me was illegal, but this is legal action,” she stated.
Ranaut accused Kamra of insulting people under the guise of comedy and questioned his legitimacy in making such remarks.
“Who are these people, and what are their credentials? If they have writing skills, they should use them for literature instead of abusing people and our culture in the name of comedy,” she said, adding, “We need to think about where society is heading when such actions are justified for just two minutes of fame.”
She also praised Eknath Shinde, emphasizing his hard work and rise from being a rickshaw driver to a Deputy Chief Minister.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also slammed Kamra, stating that his remarks against Shinde could not be justified under “freedom of speech.”
“There is freedom to do stand-up comedy, but that does not mean he can say whatever he wants. The people of Maharashtra have already decided who the real traitor is. Kamra should apologize—this will not be tolerated,” Fadnavis asserted.
The Chief Minister further criticized Kamra’s recent YouTube video “Naya Bharat,” which took jibes at Indian politics. He accused Kamra of deliberately defaming Shinde and compared his actions to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, claiming both had failed to understand the Constitution.
“One may create humor, but making derogatory statements is unacceptable. Freedom of speech comes with limitations. Encroaching on others’ rights and ideology cannot be justified,” he added.