Kunal Kamra Plans Stampede Site As Next Venue

New Delhi:

Comic Kunal Kamra condemned the demolition of a studio in Mumbai the place supporters of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde barged in and protested towards his jokes on Mr Shinde.

Mr Kamra in a publish on X mentioned an leisure venue is merely a platform and has no energy or management over what he says or does, so attacking a venue is “senseless”.

“An entertainment venue is merely a platform. A space for all sorts of shows. Habitat (or any other venue) is not responsible for my comedy, nor does it have any power or control over what I say or do. Neither does any political party. Attacking a venue for a comedian’s words is as senseless as overturning a lorry carrying tomatoes, because you didn’t like the butter chicken you were served,” Mr Kamra mentioned.

Referring to what he known as “political leaders threatening to teach” him a lesson, Mr Kamra mentioned the correct to freedom of speech and expression is “not only to be used to fawn over the powerful and rich even though today’s media would have us believe otherwise”.

“Your inability to take a joke at the expense of a powerful public figure does not change the nature of my right. As far as I know, it is not against the law to poke fun at our leaders and the circus that is our political system,” the comic mentioned.

He mentioned he’s keen to cooperate with the police and courts for any lawful motion taken towards him. Nonetheless, he raised a query, “… Will the law be fairly and equally deployed against those who have decided that vandalism is the appropriate response to being offended by a joke? And against the unelected members of the BMC, who have arrived today at Habitat, without prior notice, and tore the place down with hammers?”

Mr Kamra mentioned he might go for Elphinstone bridge or every other construction that is “in need of speedy demolition” as his subsequent present’s venue.

The bridge he referred to noticed a stampede in September 2017, killing 23 individuals. Earlier than the tragedy occurred, Mumbaikars had been elevating concern over the situation of the bridge and requested the authorities to demolish the previous bridge and make a brand new one. One publish on X (then Twitter) a 12 months earlier than the incident tagged the Prime Minister and the then Railway Minister and it turned virtually prophetic.

Mr Kamra additionally criticised individuals who have been continually calling his quantity.

“To those who are busy leaking my number or calling me incessantly: I am sure you’ve realised by now that all unknown calls go to my voicemail, where you will be subjected to the very song that you hate,” he mentioned. “To the media faithfully reporting this circus: Remember that press freedom in India ranks at 159. I will not apologise. What I said is exactly what Mr Ajit Pawar (1st deputy CM) said about Mr Eknath Shinde (2nd Deputy CM). I don’t fear this mob and I will not be hiding under my bed, waiting for this to die down,” the comic mentioned.

My Assertion – pic.twitter.com/QZ6NchIcsM

— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) March 24, 2025

The motion towards the studio by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Company (BMC) got here a day after Habitat Studio and Unicontinental resort the place it’s positioned have been ransacked on Sunday evening by Shiv Sena staff.

A short lived shed and different buildings comprising the studio, which was created within the basement of the resort, has been razed, a civic official mentioned.

“It was removed as there is no civic permission to create a studio in the basement. The BMC will check the hotel to see if everything is as per the allowed plan,” the official mentioned.

Earlier on Monday, Habitat Studio introduced they have been shutting down after Shiv Sena staff vandalised their premises.

In an Instagram publish, the studio mentioned they have been “shocked, worried and extremely broken by the recent acts of vandalism targeting us.”

Habitat Studio is similar venue the place the controversial ‘India’s Acquired Latent’ present was filmed. It additionally led to an enormous controversy in February.