Kunal Kamra criticizes Minister Nirmala Sitharaman: So, Kunal Kamra is back at it again. This time, he’s roasting Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Yep, the comedian took a dig at her during his latest stand-up show, Naya Bharat, and let’s just say, the internet has thoughts. But that’s not all—he’s also in hot water over comments about Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. FIRs, political outrage, vandalism—it’s a whole thing. Let’s break it down.
The Popcorn Saga
Kamra, being Kamra, hopped on X (formerly Twitter) and posted a clip from his stand-up. He had one of those “popcorn and watch the drama” moments—literally. In the video, he’s seen poking fun at Sitharaman, calling her saree wali didi while parodying the classic Bollywood song Hawa Hawai.
Here’s the breakdown of his parody lyrics:
- “Desh mein itni mehngai, sarkar ke saath hai aayi…”
- “Logon ki lootne kamai, saree wali didi hai aayi…”
- “Salary churane yeh hai aayi, middle class dabane yeh hai aayi…”
- “Popcorn khilane yeh hai aayi, kehte hain isko—Nirmala Tai!”
And before you ask—yes, this is about GST. Remember that whole popcorn taxation debate? Sitharaman had defended the government’s decision, explaining why caramel popcorn (because of added sugar) attracts 18% GST while plain popcorn is taxed less. Kamra decided to turn that into stand-up gold.
The Bigger Storm: FIRs, Politics, and Backlash
While people were busy debating whether his joke was hilarious or crossing the line, a bigger controversy was brewing. See, Kamra had also called out Eknath Shinde, the Maharashtra Deputy CM, in another bit. And let’s just say, it didn’t go down well with the ruling party.
Cue the outrage. Shiv Sena workers weren’t laughing. An FIR was filed against Kamra in Thane district, accusing him of defaming Shinde. Specifically, he’s been booked under Section 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for defamation. The complaint was lodged at Dombivli police station by a Shiv Sena functionary.
And if that wasn’t enough, things escalated real fast. Kamra’s studio was vandalized—because, of course, why stop at just an FIR? But did he back down? Nope. Instead, he doubled down, posting a defiant message on X:
“I will not apologize.”
Straight-up mic drop moment.
Political Reactions: Everyone Has an Opinion
And then, of course, the politicians jumped in—because when does that not happen? Maharashtra’s Deputy CM, Devendra Fadnavis, had some thoughts. Big ones. He stood up in the state assembly and basically went, “Look, freedom of speech is cool and all, but don’t go overboard.” His exact words? It shouldn’t be used for “oppressive behavior.” Translation: Crack your jokes, but don’t push your luck.
Eknath Shinde himself also addressed the issue. His stance? He supports freedom of expression, but he warns against its misuse. He also hinted that Kamra’s remarks weren’t just comedy—they could be part of some bigger “conspiracy” (cue dramatic music ). He even brought up how Kamra has had issues before, like being banned by airlines for his political jabs.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering—Shinde also didn’t support the vandalism of Kamra’s studio. He said party workers acted out of emotion. So, yeah. Things got heated.
The Takeaway
At this point, Kunal Kamra is no stranger to political drama. Whether it’s roasting Nirmala Sitharaman over GST policies or calling out Maharashtra’s political leaders, he’s always toeing the line between comedy and controversy. But what’s next? Will this all blow over, or will there be more legal trouble ahead? Knowing Kamra, he’s not backing down anytime soon.
Stay tuned. The popcorn (taxed or not) is ready.
