Comedian Kunal Kamra refuses to apologize for skit

Indian comedian Kunal Kamra on Monday night refused to apologize for his act criticizing a politician allied with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after the launch of an investigation accusing him of defamation.

“I don’t fear this mob and I will not be hiding under my bed, waiting for this to die down,” Kamra, among India’s leading comedians, said in a post shared on his social media accounts.

Why is Kamra being investigated?

Kamra has stirred controversy since he performed a skit where he called Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde a “traitor.”

Supporters of Shinde’s Shiv Sena party were quick to attack the venue where Kamra had performed, though he was not present when they arrived.

Shinde is part of the faction of the Shiv Sena party, which is allied with Prime Minister Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The two parties are in a coalition ruling the state of Maharashtra.

The “traitor” remark was a reference to Shinde switching political allegiances in 2022, which plunged India’s richest state into a political crisis and led to the resignation of then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Shinde taking over the seat.

Shinde has yet to comment on the incident. State Chief Minister, and Shinde’s boss, Devendra Fadnavis meanwhile told reporters: “We respect freedom of expression, but recklessness will not be tolerated.”

Mumbai police on Monday opened an investigation into the comedian after the party filed a complaint against him for defamation, among other charges.

The Habitat, a well-known performance venue in Mumbai where the show was held, announced it will shut its doors after the incident. The city’s civic authority later demolished the venue, saying it had lacked necessary permissions.

How are comedians treated in India?

In his statement where he refused to apologize, Kamra stressed the right to freedom of speech and expression.

“Your inability to take a joke at the expense of a powerful public figure does not change the nature of my right,” he said.

Earlier on Monday night, Kamra had posted a picture of himself holding up the constitution of India captioned, “The only way forward…”

This is not the first time comedians have gotten in the crosshairs for making fun of politicians. Kamra himself has been widely attacked in the past for satire targeting Modi and other senior politicians.

Several other comedians have also been arrested or had shows canceled for satirically mocking politicians or making references to the Hindu religion.

In 2021, Muslim comedian Munawar Faruqui was arrested and imprisoned for over a month for allegedly making fun of Hindu gods and goddesses.