Comedian Kunal Kamra's satirical remarks about Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde led to a violent reaction. His use of the word "gaddar" (traitor) in a parody resulted in an attack on the venue where he performed and police charges against him under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The Mumbai police filed a case against Kamra, and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished unauthorized structures outside the venue. The Maharashtra government demanded a public apology, which Kamra refused. While some Shiv Sena members involved in the vandalism were also booked, the government's actions are seen by some as arbitrary retaliation.
The incident highlights rising intolerance and the misuse of laws to stifle satire and dissent. The article criticizes the invocation of "hurt sentiments" to justify violence and the undermining of democratic discourse.