MUMBAI, March 24: Comedian Kunal Kamra has ignited a political controversy after referring to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as a “traitor” during a recent stand-up comedy performance. The remarks, made at The Uni Continental Club in Khar West, were part of a parody song mocking Shinde’s 2022 rebellion that led to the split in Shiv Sena.

Kamra later shared a video of the performance on social media, which quickly went viral and triggered outrage among Shiv Sena workers. Some of the workers reportedly vandalized the venue where the show was held. In response, Shiv Sena leader Rahul Kanal filed a police complaint at the Khar Police Station, accusing Kamra of making derogatory comments about Shinde.

The party has since demanded Kamra’s arrest. Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske accused Kamra of being hired by the Uddhav Thackeray faction to malign Shinde’s image, warning of “dire consequences” and stating, “If we start following you, you will have to leave the country.”

In addition, party leaders including MLA Murji Patel have demanded an apology from Kamra and threatened legal action. While the controversy has intensified, Aaditya Thackeray, a leader of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction, condemned the vandalism, calling it an act of “cowardice.” He further mocked the insecurity within the Shinde faction, questioning the law and order under Shinde and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The incident has also garnered attention from various political figures. Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut defended Kamra, suggesting that the backlash was an attempt to suppress dissent. On the other hand, Shiv Sena leader Milind Deora criticized Kamra’s remarks, labeling them as classist and disrespectful to Shinde’s journey from an auto driver to a prominent political figure.

As of now, police have not confirmed whether an FIR has been registered against Kamra. Known for his sharp political satire, Kamra has faced similar controversies in the past, including a temporary ban by an airline for his actions.