Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde hit out at Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena after comedian Kunal Kamra recited a satirical song taking a dig at him. Reiterating his allegation, Shinde said the traitor parody targeting him was part of a 'supari' (contract) given to the comedian.

Besides, Shinde said the people of Maharashtra and the Supreme Court have revealed who a traitor was, NDTV reported. 

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The Shiv Sena chief also claimed that while Uddhav’s Sena and other opposition members in Maharashtra were hailing the Constitution and freedom of speech, there have been numerous occasions in the past when they took action against those who criticised them. 

Shinde cited the 2020 incident when actress and Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut's Mumbai office was demolished after she criticised the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government's handling of actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death.

Kunal Kamra’s remark on Shinde created a massive outrage in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena workers reached the venue of the show, where the comedian made comments, and vandalised it. Besides, several threat calls were made to Kamra, warning him of dire consequences. 

Kamra, in his first reaction over the row, categorically said he would not apologise for his comment, asserting that making jokes about leaders was not unlawful.

“Our right 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,” he said. 

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Mumbai Police summoned Kamra to record his statement on Tuesday after multiple complaints were filed against him over comments on Shinde. However, he did not come. The comedian’s lawyer contacted police and sought seven-day time, officials said, adding that further action will be initiated after taking legal opinion.