Mumbai: Legislators from the ruling Shiv Sena and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday initiated proceedings for breach of privilege motion against comedian Kunal Kamra, whose song referring to Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde as a traitor and turncoat has kicked up a political row. Proceedings for breach of privilege were also initiated against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare, who released a video supporting Kamra and questioning why others who allegedly insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had not been similarly targeted.
Breach of privilege refers to instances when any individual disregards or undermines the rights and immunities enjoyed by the parliament or legislature and its members, which are essential for them to perform their duties.
Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Bornare initiated the process for breach of privilege motions against Kamra and Andhare in the legislative assembly while BJP legislator Pravin Darekar did the same in the legislative council.
Kamra had insulted Shinde, a popular leader, through the song while Andhare had ridiculed chief minister Devendra Fadnavis over his statement in the lower House seeking the strictest action in the case, Bornare said while moving the notice for breach of privilege motions against them.
The notice should be accepted and strict action should be taken to ensure no one dares to ridicule proceedings of the House, Shiv Sena and BJP legislators pointed out. Presiding officer Sanjay Kelkar then admitted the notice and sent it to the breach of privileges committee.
In the legislative council, Darekar said that while the comedian had insulted Shinde, Andhare had backed him and recited lines from the song again in a video which also contained her comments. He then read out Andhare’s comments from the video, where she reportedly said, “Everyone is deeply angry. But where was the anger when former Maharashtra governor BS Koshiyari insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Babasaheb Ambedkar. Where was the anger when the Shivaji Maharaj statue at Malvan fell because of sculptor Jaideep Apte’s mistake. Why was Apte’s office not ransacked. Why was there no action against Rahul Solapurkar and Prashant Koratkar who spoke against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.”
“She has instigated all members,” said Darekar after reading out her comments. “This was an insult to all members of the legislature and hence I am moving the motion.”
Legislative council chairperson Ram Shinde admitted the notice and sent it to the breach of privileges committee, which will conduct hearings and submit its report to the state assembly.
Saamna slams government
Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana on Wednesday slammed the Mahayuti government over the Kunal Kamra issue, saying the controversial song released by the comedian was merely “old wine in a new bottle”.
“Kamra’s parody song only pointed to the split in Shiv Sena, engineered by Shinde against Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership in 2022. It is nothing but old wine in a new bottle, but still the deputy chief minister’s supporters vandalised a studio in Mumbai. Prime minister Narendra Modi said in a recent interview that criticism is the soul of democracy and within a few days, Modi supporters and Shinde’s partymen attacked the studio…The attack has once again proved that chief minister and home minister Devendra Fadnavis is helpless and weak,” said an editorial in the Saamna.