Kunal Kamra is in deeper trouble, Maharashtra Parliament admits breach of privilege notice
Maharashtra Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde said he had accepted the privilege notice from Kunal Kamra by the “traitor” Jibe and forwarded it to the privilege committee.
Kunal Kamra, stand-up comedian
The Maharashtra Legislative Council admitted that it had violated the privilege notice against standing comedian Kunal Kamra for allegedly insulting Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in a recent show.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare was also appointed in the notification. Maharashtra Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde told PTI on Thursday that he had notified the privilege of “traitor” Jibe against Kunal Kamra and had forwarded it to the Privileged Council.
The controversy stems from Kamra’s recent performance at the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, where he performed parody songs against Eknath Shinde.
The bill has sparked backlash from Shiv Sena supporters who have ruined the club and the hotel they were at Sunday night. Ram Shinde said: “I have accepted a notice of violations of Kunal Kamra and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare and have sent it to Prasad Lad, Chairman of the Privileged Commission. The future course of action on the motion will be decided by the committee.”
The notice was originally presented Wednesday by BJP MLC Pravin Darekar, who also serves as House leader.
“Kunal Kamra sang a song that contained a personal and insulting reference to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde,” Darekar said.
Darekar further accused Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Andhare of supporting the performance and “using objectionable language, which amounts to contempt for the house”. Both Kamra and Andhare “by their remarks, disrespect the dignity of the legislature”, according to Darekar.
BJP MLC Prasad Lad was appointed Chairman of the Privileged Committee last year and will now review the notice with other committee members. If the committee finds a worthy value in the complaint, it can be filed in the House of Representatives.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena Mla Ramesh Bornare, led by Eknath Shinde, allegedly alleged to mock Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in a state parliament’s notice of breach of privilege against Sushma Andhare.
Financial Secretary Ashish Jaiswal expanded support for Bornare notifications. BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar urged members of the General Assembly to be appointed soon.
Host Sanjay Kelkar said Speaker Rahul Narwekar will make a decision on the notification. Meanwhile, Kamra refuses to apologize and asserts that he will not “hide under the bed and wait for the controversy to disappear.”
Kamra (36) is a complaint from Khar Police against Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, allegedly making defamatory remarks against Deputy Chief Minister Shinde.
According to police sources, Kamra, currently in Puducherry, is being asked to appear in front of authorities within a week, according to his Instagram Bio.
(This story has not been edited by DNA staff and published from PTI in addition to the title)
