NEW DELHI: Habitat Studio on Monday announced its decision to temporarily shut down after Shiv Sena workers vandalised the venue following uproar over comedian Kunal Kamra‘s jibe at Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde during a show in Mumbai.
In a post on its official Instagram handle, Habitat studio said, “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 are shutting down until 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, audiences, and stakeholders to discuss and share their views freely and request your guidance so that we also respect the performers’ rights,” it added.
Meanwhile, an FIR was registered against Shiv Sena Yuva Sena General Secretary Rahool Kanal and 19 others for vandalizing the Habitat stand-up comedy set under various sections of the BNS and Maharashtra Police Act.
Major row erupted after Kamra performed a parody of a popular Hindi song from “Dil To Pagal Hai,” referring to Shinde as a “gaddar” (traitor). He also made jokes about recent political developments in Maharashtra, including party splits within Shiv Sena and NCP.
“Meri nazar se tum dekho to gaddar nazar wo aaye. Haaye,” Kunal Kamra said during his show.
“Shiv Sena first came out of the BJP, then Shiv Sena came out of Shiv Sena. NCP came out of NCP, they gave nine buttons to one voter… everyone got confused,” he added.
Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel filed an FIR against Kamra and issued an ultimatum, demanding an apology within two days. Patel threatened to restrict Kamra’s movement in Mumbai and promised to raise the issue in the assembly.
“We have filed an FIR against Kunal Kamra for his comments against our leader and Maharashtra’s DCM Eknath Shinde. We have demanded quick action against him. I want to tell him to apologize to Eknath Shinde within two days, otherwise, Shiv Sainiks will not let him move about freely in Mumbai,” Patel said.
“If he is seen anywhere in public, we will paint his face black… We will take up this issue in the assembly and request our state’s home minister to order action against him as soon as possible,” he added.
