A fresh controversy erupted in the Delhi Assembly on Friday after Chief Minister Rekha Gupta referred to Delhi police personnel as “thulla” during a speech, drawing sharp criticism from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The opposition party accused the BJP of hypocrisy, claiming its leaders had previously condemned similar language used by others.

During a discussion in the Assembly, Gupta narrated an incident about a theft at a ration shop, criticizing police response time. “The police arrived late, just like Punjab’s police. Do thulle (two cops) stood here, two there, surrounding the area,” she said. The term “thulla,” considered a derogatory slang for police in North India, immediately drew attention.

AAP swiftly shared a video clip of the remarks on social media, questioning the lack of backlash. “BJP’s CM called policemen ‘thulla’ today, yet the Speaker didn’t object. Had another leader said this, the BJP would have created a nationwide uproar,” the party stated.

AAP leaders highlighted the contrast in reactions, recalling when Delhi’s former CM Arvind Kejriwal faced criticism for using the same term in 2023. “Back then, the BJP demanded apologies and filed cases. Today, silence,” said AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj.

He also accused the BJP government of supporting corruption and those involved in it. “Ongoing corruption cases against officials were being addressed in the committees and courts of the Delhi Assembly, but the BJP government halted those proceedings.”

Additionally, while there were cases against the Chief Secretary and several officials regarding the cessation of pensions for elderly individuals and widows in Delhi, the BJP government chose to terminate those cases, he said.

Earlier in the day, former Delhi CM Atishi accused the BJP-led central government of failing to deliver on welfare promises. “PM Modi pledged ₹2,500 for Delhi’s women by March 8. When we questioned this in the Assembly, AAP MLAs were expelled,” she told reporters. Atishi also mocked the BJP’s focus on renaming areas like Mustafabad instead of addressing economic concerns.

The Supreme Court has quashed an FIR against Congress Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi over a poem posted on Instagram, reinforcing its stance on protecting freedom of speech. The top court stated that courts must lead in safeguarding the right to free expression and observed that mere discomfort or disagreement cannot be grounds for curbing speech.

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan ruled that no offence was made out in the case, criticising the Gujarat Police for its prompt action against the parliamentarian. The FIR was registered in Jamnagar on January 3 by a clerk working for an advocate, who alleged that the poem “Ae khoon ke pyase baat suno” disturbed social harmony.

The court stressed that Article 19(2) of the Constitution, which allows reasonable restrictions on free speech, should not overshadow the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 19(1). “Restrictions must be reasonable, not fanciful,” the bench noted.

Highlighting the significance of creative expression, the court said, “Literature, including poetry, drama, films, stand-up comedy, satire, and art, makes life more meaningful.” It further remarked that in a democratic society, differing opinions must be addressed with counter-speech rather than suppression.

This verdict comes amid a broader debate over artistic freedom, just days after stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra faced FIRs and public outrage for remarks about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a performance in Mumbai.

In his defence, Congress MP claimed the poem was penned by celebrated poets Faiz Ahmed Faiz or Habib Jalib, submitting AI-generated screenshots to support his claim. The prosecution, however, argued that as a lawmaker, he should have acted more responsibly.

The Gujarat High Court had earlier refused to quash the FIR, but the Supreme Court overruled that decision, sending a strong message on the primacy of free speech in a democratic framework.

Comedian Kunal Kamra is facing escalating backlash from Maharashtra’s political leadership, with state minister Shambhuraj Desai on Thursday issuing a stern warning, saying Kamra will soon receive the “prasad of Shiv Sena” for his repeated satire targeting prominent leaders including Eknath Shinde, Nirmala Sitharaman, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Desai’s comments came in response to Kamra reposting parody videos from his show in Mumbai, where he mockingly referred to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as a “traitor” — a jab at Shinde’s 2022 rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray, which split the Shiv Sena.

“Patience is running out,” warns Desai

In a sharp statement, Desai accused Kamra of “crossing all limits” and claimed the comic was deliberately insulting senior political figures. He said, “Wherever he’s hiding, we will drag him out. Now it’s time to give him ‘prasad’.” Desai also pointed to the earlier attack on Kamra’s studio in Mumbai’s Khar area by Shiv Sena workers, saying their anger was already evident.

“We are ministers and MLAs, but first we are Shiv Sainiks. Our patience is running out,” Desai added, calling Kamra’s parodies provocative and intentional.

References to police action and third-degree treatment

Desai went a step further by invoking police action, suggesting Kamra may face more than just legal consequences. “Police give ‘prasad’ to accused using tyres. It’s time to give the same to Kamra,” he said, referencing a controversial method often associated with custodial abuse, sparking concerns over the tone of the warning.

The minister also said that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has assured action against Kamra under the law and challenged the comic to face the Shiv Sena openly.

Kamra’s videos at the center of controversy

Kamra recently reposted clips from his show at The Habitat in Mumbai. One of the parody songs, based on Hum Honge Kamyaab, featured visuals of the post-show studio vandalism, allegedly carried out by Shinde supporters. In another clip uploaded Wednesday, Kamra spoofed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman using Hawa Hawai from Mr. India.

The controversy, which began with political satire, has now turned into a high-tension standoff between the comedian and Maharashtra’s ruling leaders.