26 March 2025 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau): Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde said on Wednesday that the people of the state have already given the verdict on who the ‘real gaddaar’ is.
This comes amid the row over comedian Kunal Kamra’s ‘gaddaar’ (traitor) jibe on Shinde in his Mumbai show. The Shiv Sena chief repeated the allegations of ‘paid content’ on Kamra, saying that his parody song was part of a ‘supari’ (contract) given to the comedian by Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT).
“You keep calling me ‘gaddar, gaddar’, you will soon have to close the ‘daar’ (door) of your party. The Election Commission, the Supreme Court, and the Speaker of the House have said who is the ‘gaddar’. More importantly, the people, who are above everyone, have also given their verdict. No matter how much ‘supari’ (contract) you give, nothing’s going to work,” Shinde said in the state Legislative Council.
The deputy CM also pointed out several instances of Shiv Sena (UBT) acting against people who criticised them. He used the example of now-BJP MP Kangana Ranaut’s Mumbai house being bulldozed in 2020 when she criticised the then Uddhav Thackeray government regarding the Sushant Singh Rajput case. Notably, Shinde was also a minister in the same Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.
The ‘traitor’ jibe
Eknath Shinde has faced the ‘traitor’ jibe several times from the Uddhav Thackeray faction after causing a split in the Shiv Sena in 2022. He had joined hands with the BJP, leading to the Thackeray-led government falling in Maharashtra and being replaced with one headed by Shinde.
Comedian Kunal Kamra’s jibe at the current deputy CM was an apparent reference to the same rebellion, leading to accusations that he was paid by the Thackeray faction.
Mumbai has registered a case against the comic, who is not in the city, and asked for a week to respond to the summons against him. While Kamra has faced condemnation from the Mahayuti alliance, Shiv Sena (UBT) and other opposition parties have backed the comedian in the row, citing freedom of expression.
Summary:Eknath Shinde responds to Kunal Kamra’s ‘traitor’ jibe, claiming the people have spoken.