'Picture abhi baaki hai', says Sena after ruckus over Kunal Kamra's Shinde joke, MVA condemns ‘hooliganism’

Political parties responded to Kunal Kamra's alleged defamatory remarks against Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde on Monday, while the Mumbai police filed a formal complaint against the stand-up comedian and almost 40 Shiv Sena employees for damaging the Habitat Studio, where his show was held the previous evening.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) defended Kamra's constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression, while the BJP and Shiv Sena, the partners in the Mahayuti alliance, denounced the purported remarks and suspected a conspiracy. "Nobody" should break the law, the constitution, or the norms, according to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. "They should speak within their rights." "There can be differences, but it should be noted that there need not be police involvement."

Rahool Kanal, the general secretary of the Shinde faction Shiv Sena youth wing, has filed a formal complaint against him for damaging the location where Kunal Kamra's performance was recorded. Kanal said that Kamra's act was a "paid conspiracy." Targeting elderly and maintaining one's dignity were the issues, according to Kanal. He said, "The message (for Kunal Kamra) is clear, 'Abhi tak toh ye trailer hai, picture abhi baki hai.' You will receive a good lesson in Shiv Sena style whenever you are in Mumbai."