'Kunal Kamra hasn't done anything wrong': Uddhav Thackeray backs comedian amid row over joke on Shinde

Thackeray also demanded that the government give compensation for the damage caused at the venue of Kamra's show

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, being targeted by the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena for labelling the deputy chief minister a traitor, has not done anything wrong.

“Kamra merely expressed his views. He stated the facts and voiced the public opinion,” Thackeray told reporters at Vidhan Bhawan in south Mumbai.

Mumbai police have arrested Shiv Sena functionary Rahul Kanal and 11 others for ransacking the venue at a Mumbai hotel Sunday night where Kamra made the controversial ‘traitor' jibe against Shinde. “Kamra hasn't done anything wrong...These traitors don’t see Solapurkar and Koratkar who insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” Thackeray said.

He was referring to protests in the state seeking the arrest of Nagpur-based journalist Prashant Koratkar and actor Rahul Solapurkar for their alleged objectionable remarks against Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Thackeray also demanded that the government give compensation for the damage caused at the venue of Kamra's show following its ransacking by the Shinde-led party's workers.

Additionally, Uddhav's son and Shiv Sena-UBT MLA Aaditya Thackeray also came in support of the comedian and said that Shinde should first answer whether he is a traitor or a thief.

"Why should Kunal Kamra apologize? If this traitor and thief is Eknath Shinde, then Kunal Kamra must apologize. But Eknath Shinde should first answer whether he is a traitor or a thief," Aditya Thackeray told reporters.

Uddhav Thackeray became the Chief Minister when the then-undivided Shiv Sena joined hands with the Congress and the NCP to form the government after the 2019 state assembly election. However, three years later Eknath Shinde along with other rebel lawmakers broke ranks and joined BJP. Later, he became the Chief Minister of the new Sena-BJP government.

Meanwhile, Kunal Kamra reportedly said that he would only apologise for his comment if directed to do so by the courts, according to NDTV citing Mumbai Police sources.

He also reportedly said he does not regret making the 'gaddar' comment, and that he had not been paid by the opposition.

Earlier, the venue in Khar West where comedian Kunal Kamra recently performed was inspected by BMC officials. During the review of the ground-plus-three-storey building’s plans, officials identified a temporary shed at the entrance that had been constructed without civic approval.