Shiv Sena functionary Rahul Kanal has been arrested for ransacking venue where Kunal Kamra made 'traitor' jibe against Eknath Shinde. An FIR was also lodged against Shinde Sena’s youth wing general secretary and 19 others for vandalizing the venue. The Habitat, where the incident took place, expressed deep distress over the attack. “Artists are solely responsible for their views and creative choices,” the venue stated on Monday.
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“We have never been involved in the content performed by any artist, but the recent events have made us rethink about how we get blamed and targeted every time almost like we are a proxy for the performer,” The Habitat said in a statement. The venue also announced its temporary closure, saying, “We will be shutting down till we figure out the best way to provide a platform for free expression without putting ourselves and our property in jeopardy.”
A large number of Shiv Sena workers gathered outside Hotel Unicontinental, where the studio is situated, and allegedly ransacked the studio and hotel premises. The Habitat Studio is known for hosting the controversial 'India's Got Latent' show. The MIDC police registered the FIR in the early hours of Monday against Kamra under various Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections, including 353(1)(b) for statements conducing to public mischief and 356(2) for defamation. The video also showed Kamra mocking the ruling NCP and Shiv Sena, and an investigation is underway.
The video of Kamra's jibe at Shinde was also shared on social media by rival Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut. Kamra taunted Shinde with a modified version of a Hindi song, which elicited laughter from the audience. In response, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske warned Kamra of consequences and alleged that he had accepted money from Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray to target Shinde.Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel demanded an apology from Kamra, while Sena (UBT) legislator Aaditya Thackeray criticised the vandalism, calling it a "cowardly" act. Thackeray questioned the law and order situation in the state, suggesting that the incident undermined the Chief Minister and Home Minister.