”Kaun hain ye log’: Kangana Ranaut Mocks Kunal Kamra’s ‘2 Minutes of Fame’ Amid Eknath Shinde Joke Controversy
NEW DELHI: On Tuesday, Kangana Ranaut, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament from Mandi, sharply criticized comedian Kunal Kamra for his remarks targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Ranaut highlighted the troubling trend of individuals making inflammatory comments for short-lived fame, questioning the broader impact on society.
Ranaut remarked, “We should think where society is heading when someone does this only for 2 minutes of fame. You might be anyone, but insulting and defaming someone. A person for whom his/her respect is everything, and you insult and disregard them.” She further challenged the credentials of such figures, stating, “Who are these people, and what are their credentials? If they can write, they should do so in literature…Abusing people and our culture in the name of comedy.” Ranaut also contrasted the legal actions against Kamra with what she called the illegal demolition of her own bungalow.
The Controversy
The uproar began when Kamra, during a performance, parodied a song from the film Dil Toh Pagal Hai, branding Shinde a “gaddar” (traitor). He sang, “Meri nazar se tum dekho to gaddar nazar wo aaye. Haaye,” sparking outrage among Shinde’s supporters within the Shiv Sena faction he leads. The incident led to protests and vandalism targeting Habitat Studio, the venue hosting Kamra’s show.
Kamra also mocked Maharashtra’s chaotic political landscape, saying, “Shiv Sena first came out of BJP, then Shiv Sena came out of Shiv Sena. NCP came out of NCP, they gave nine buttons to one voter… everyone got confused.” In response, an FIR was lodged against him, and Khar Police issued a summons. Authorities arrested 12 Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) workers and filed a case against 40 others for the vandalism at Habitat Studio. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) moved to demolish an allegedly illegal section of the venue, though its owners requested time to handle the dismantling themselves.
Habitat Studio, caught in the crossfire, announced a temporary closure. “We are shocked, worried, and extremely broken by the recent acts of vandalism targeting us,” the studio stated, adding, “The Habitat is not involved in the making of the recent video of Kunal Kamra and does not endorse the views expressed in it.”
Political Reactions
The dispute quickly escalated into a political showdown. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned Kamra, demanding an apology and promising “strictest possible action.” He stated, “Kamra’s aim was to belittle Shinde in the eyes of the people. The opposition is supporting such talk, and one wonders whether Kamra is hand-in-glove with them.” Fadnavis added a stern warning: “When you attack the freedom of others, your freedom is restricted. If you insult people on constitutional posts to create disturbances by taking supari (contract) to get publicity, it will not be tolerated… Strict action will be taken as per law.”
In contrast, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray rallied behind Kamra, arguing, “Kamra merely expressed his views. He stated the facts and voiced public opinion.” Thackeray maintained that Kamra had not erred, saying, “Kamra hasn’t done anything wrong… These traitors don’t see Solapurkar and Koratkar, who insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.”
Kamra Stands Firm
Unyielding, Kamra refused to retract his statements or bow to pressure. “I will not apologise,” he declared. “What I said is exactly what Mr. Ajit Pawar (1st Deputy CM) said about Mr. Eknath Shinde (2nd Deputy CM). I don’t fear this mob, and I will not be hiding under my bed, waiting for this to die down.” His defiance has only intensified the ongoing clash, drawing sharp lines between his supporters and detractors.