Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remark that “criticism is the soul of democracy,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) on Wednesday condemned the aggressive reaction sparked by comedian Kunal Kamra’s parody targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
An editorial in Saamana, the party’s mouthpiece, argued that Kamra’s satire merely revisited Shinde’s 2022 rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership “old wine in a new bottle.” Yet, Shinde’s supporters stormed a Mumbai studio on Sunday, vandalizing the venue where Kamra’s show was filmed.
The editorial pointed out that the 2022 rebellion had led to a split in the Shiv Sena, the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, and Shinde’s subsequent alliance with the BJP to form a new administration. It further claimed that Maharashtra’s government was “extra-constitutional” after 40 MLAs defected an episode that played out in the Supreme Court.
“Slogans about ‘khoke’ (money power) echoed across the state. Kamra simply repackaged this in a parody song so what was new?” the Marathi daily questioned. Despite this, Shinde’s supporters reacted so strongly that they stormed the studio, leading to widespread criticism.
According to Saamana, the backlash not only embarrassed Shinde but also made him a subject of ridicule in Maharashtra, while the BJP and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis remained passive spectators. The publication also accused the Mumbai civic body of acting with bias by swiftly demolishing structures in the vicinity under the pretext of illegal construction only after the studio had been used to criticize the government.
The editorial raised pointed questions about Maharashtra’s law and order: “What was the home minister (Fadnavis) doing? Where was the police when chaos unfolded in Mumbai? Were they silent spectators, or worse, complicit in the act?”
It further accused Fadnavis of shielding Shinde’s supporters instead of taking action against them. “It is now evident that Fadnavis is a weak home minister. Rather than punishing the vandals, he is asking Kamra to apologize to Shinde essentially proving that freedom of speech does not exist.”
The piece also called out hypocrisy, noting that Fadnavis’ father had fought against Indira Gandhi’s Emergency, yet the BJP continues to observe June 26 as ‘Black Day’ while allegedly suppressing dissent. “If they continue to stifle criticism, they should drop the pretense of marking June 26 as Black Day,” it stated.
Further questioning the selective outrage of Shinde’s supporters, Saamana asked why they remained silent on journalist Prashant Koratkar, who allegedly defamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son. “Has the BJP granted Koratkar the freedom to insult Shivaji Maharaj?” it asked.
Kamra’s parody song, which mocked Shinde’s political career by modifying lyrics from a Bollywood film, has triggered a political storm. On Sunday night, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) workers vandalized the Habitat Studio in Mumbai’s Khar area, along with a hotel on the premises.