Clash Over Comedy: Uddhav Thackeray Defends Kunal Kamra

Uddhav Thackeray defended Kunal Kamra, criticizing the arrest of Shiv Sena members for vandalizing a venue where Kamra labeled the deputy chief minister a traitor. Thackeray emphasized Kamra's expression of truth and public opinion and called for compensation for the damages caused by the incident.

Uddhav Thackeray, a leader from the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction, has come to the defense of stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra amid ongoing controversy. Kamra, who recently referred to the deputy chief minister as a 'traitor,' has drawn the ire of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena group.

Thackeray, speaking to reporters at Vidhan Bhawan in south Mumbai, insisted that Kamra merely conveyed public sentiment and factual observations. The controversy escalated when Mumbai police arrested Shiv Sena functionary Rahul Kanal and 11 others for vandalizing a venue where Kamra performed over the weekend.

In a further statement, Thackeray highlighted the hypocrisy of the situation, noting that calls for action against journalist Prashant Koratkar and actor Rahul Solapurkar have gone unheeded. He demanded compensation for the damages inflicted on the venue of Kamra's show, following the ransacking by Shinde's partisans.

(With inputs from agencies.)