'Kunal Kamra also mocked Modi': Opposition questions BJP's selective outrage
What's the story
The opposition has questioned why the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remained silent on Kunal Kamra's joke about Prime Minister Narendra Modi while reacting strongly to his parody song targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Ambadas Danve, the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra legislative council, said, "The...party was outraged over a parody song that did not even name Shinde. It appears the BJP is using Shinde as a front to target Kamra."
Satirical controversy
Kamra's parody performance sparks political debate
Kamra's parody, based on a song from the Bollywood movie Dil To Pagal Hai, apparently called Shinde a "gaddar" (traitor)—a nod to his 2022 rebellion against former CM Uddhav Thackeray.
The act also commented on the split within Shiv Sena in 2022 and the subsequent division in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in 2023.
This has prompted a larger debate on freedom of speech, selective political outrage, and the role of satire in public discourse.
Political criticism
BJP's selective outrage questioned by opposition
The police issued the first summons to Kamra on Tuesday and again on Wednesday, asking for his attendance.
According to PTI sources, after receiving the notice, the comedian asked for a week to appear before the police.
However, the police rejected his request and asked him to appear on March 31.
Meanwhile, the comedian, who has said that he would only apologize if asked by the courts, posted another satirical song, targeting Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Sitharaman
Kamra targets Sitharaman
In the video, the comedian mocked the government for potholes, digging up roads for Metro construction, and bridge collapse.
After saying corporate employees pay higher taxes than their employers, the comic turned to Sitharaman, calling her sariwaali didi and Nirmala tai.
The sarcastic take on the song Hawa Hawai from the film Mr India was part of the original comedy special, which Kamra shared on YouTube on Sunday. It was recorded at the Habitat Comedy Club a month ago.