Shiv Sena MP attacks "classist, elitist paid agent" comedian Kunal Kamra

Remembering Shiv Sena's founder the late Balasaheb Thackeray Deora told ANI, "Let me say one thing very clearly, comedy is an essential form of any society. Balasaheb Thackeray himself was a cartoonist, he himself believed in using comedy and humour. But there is a huge difference between being a classist, elitist, paid agent, trying to bail out a party."

Deora said that recently there has been a "trend" to support "entitled monarchists" who preach democracy but say classist things under the garb of liberalism.

"Nowadays, a new trend is to protect entitled monarchists who preach about democracy and meritocracy, is to use classist and elitist under the garb of liberalism," Deora said.

This trend, he says, has been rejected by people of Maharashtra.

"This has been exposed earlier when people tried to mock Narendra Modi because he came from a very humble background and he rose to become PM of the world's largest democracy. In the same way, they are trying to mock a man who came from nothing and rose to become CM of the country's second largest state," he told ANI.

"This has been exposed earlier when people tried to mock Narendra Modi because he came from a very humble background and he rose to become PM of the world's largest democracy. In the same way, they are trying to mock a man who came from nothing and rose to become CM of the country's second largest state," he added.

Following controversy erupting over Kunal Kamra's new comedy special, 'Naya Bharat' being uploaded on Youtube, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena has vehemently objected to the remarks made by the comedian. This resulted in the party's youth group, 'Yuva sena' vandalising the Habitat comedy venue where the special was filmed.

The Mahayuti ruling alliance has alleged that Kamra is a paid for by Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena, whereas the MVA opposition alliance has backed Kamra's remarks, criticising the state government for the breakdown of law and order and raising the issue of free speech.

Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that that the comedian's remarks can't be justified as "freedom of speech".

Speaking to reporters, Fadnavis stressed that while there is freedom to perform stand-up comedy, it does not extend to making "unchecked statements". He further demanded Kamra to apologise.

"There is freedom to do stand-up comedy, but he cannot speak whatever he wants. The people of Maharashtra have decided who the traitor is. Kunal Kamra should apologise. This will not be tolerated," he asserted.

An FIR has also been registered against the comedian for his remarks. The Habitat comedy club has also announced that they will be temporarily closing down after the vandalism incident. (ANI)