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The BMC reached the Habitat Studio in Mumbai’s Khar to take action against its “illegal” structures. This came after comedian Kunal Kamra made objectionable remarks against Deputy CM Eknath Shinde.
Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Vinayak Vispute at the UniContinental Hotel in Khar. (IANS)
Kunal Kamra Vs Shiv Sena Row: Amid a massive uproar over comedian Kunal Kamra’s remarks on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the vandalism of a Mumbai hotel and studio, the city’s municipal commission arrived at the venue with hammers to reportedly carry out the demolition of “illegal” parts of the Habitat studio in Khar, citing an alleged violation of rules.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reached the Habitat studio in Khar today to carry out the demolition of the illegal part. Details of the alleged violations that led to the demotion are unclear as of now, but sources told NDTV that the studio’s premises are in an encroached area between two hotels.
Mumbai Habitat Studio Shuts Down
As outrage intensified over Kamra’s objectionable remarks against Eknath Shinde, the management of the Mumbai Habitat studio announced that it was shutting down. Members of Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) vandalised the studio in an uproar over the comedian’s remark, and 12 protesters were arrested.
In a social media post, the studio’s official handle wrote, “We are shocked, worried, and extremely broken by the recent acts of vandalism targeting us.”
“Artists are solely responsible for their views and creative choices. 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.”
“We are shutting down till we figure out the best way to provide a platform for free expression without putting ourselves and our property in jeopardy. We invite all artists, audience and stakeholders to discuss and share their views freely and request your guidance so that we also respect the performers’ rights,” the studio wrote in the post.
Kamra’s Remarks On Shinde
Kamra, while performing at The Unicontinental Mumbai in Mumbai’s Khar, called Shinde a “traitor” and used a modified version of a Hindi song from the Bollywood movie “Dil To Pagal Hai” to take a dig at the 2022 rebellion of Shinde against Uddhav Thackeray.
Later, Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel lodged a police complaint against the comedian and demanded an apology within two days as party workers vandalised the hotel and studio.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanded an apology and said such statements will not be tolerated in the name of freedom of speech, assuring that legal action will be taken. “Eknath Shinde ji has been insulted, and an attempt has been made to do so. This will not be tolerated. The elections have proven who the traitors are. No stand-up comedian should have the right to call such a big leader a traitor,” he said.