Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has told Mumbai Police that he has no regrets about his controversial ‘gaddar’ (traitor) remark, which was reportedly aimed at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and made it clear that he would apologise only if court directed him to do so. This comes after Maharashtra government’s mounting pressure and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ apology demand.

Speaking to police from Tamil Nadu, Kamra also denied allegations of being paid by the opposition to target Shinde and offered full access to his financial records to prove his stand, sources revealed.

The controversy escalated further after Kamra’s Mumbai-based comedy studio, Habitat Studio, was vandalised by Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) workers on Sunday night, hours later the BMC demolished the studio citing an unspecified violation. Video footage showed a mob damaging property, throwing chairs, and burning Kamra’s photo outside a police station in Thane. All 11 accused were granted bail shortly after the incident.

Habitat Studio distances itself from Kamra’s remarks

The studio, which hosted the controversial episode of India’s Got Latent featuring Kamra, stated that it cannot be held responsible for comments made by performers. It announced a temporary shutdown, citing safety concerns and the need to evaluate how to promote free speech without endangering property and staff.

The term ‘gaddar’, used by Kamra, has been interpreted as a reference to Eknath Shinde, whose 2022 rebellion split the Shiv Sena and led to the fall of the Uddhav Thackeray-led government, paving the way for the BJP-Shinde alliance.

While BJP leaders filed multiple complaints against Kamra, Uddhav Thackeray’s faction hit back. Aaditya Thackeray called Shinde an “insecure coward,” and Priyanka Chaturvedi highlighted that Kamra never explicitly named anyone in his joke. Questioning the intolerance toward comedy and criticism, she said that their vandalism shows that there is truth in the joke.

In a significant move, Members of Parliament (MPs) will now draw a monthly salary of Rs 1.24 lakh, marking a notable increase from the previous base salary of Rs 1 lakh. This decision comes amid the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament and marks the first revision in their remuneration since April 2018.

According to a recent government notification, several components of MPs’ remuneration packages have been revised, including allowances and pensions.

Allowances and perks revised

As per the 2018 structure, MPs were entitled to Rs 70,000 per month as constituency allowance and Rs 60,000 per month as office allowance. They also received Rs 2,000 as daily allowance during Parliamentary sessions. These figures are now set to increase in line with the salary hike.

The revision also brings an increase in additional pension for long-serving MPs. The earlier provision of Rs 2,000 per year of service beyond five years has now been raised to Rs 2,500 per year.

MPs are further entitled to a range of benefits including:

• Annual allowance for phone and internet usage
• 34 free domestic air tickets per year for themselves and their families
• Unlimited first-class rail travel for both personal and professional use
• Mileage allowance for road travel
• 50,000 units of free electricity annually
• 4,000 kilolitres of free water every year
  

The government also continues to provide rent-free housing in New Delhi during the five-year term of MPs. Based on their seniority, they may be allotted hostel rooms, apartments or bungalows. Those opting out of official housing are eligible for a monthly housing allowance.

The salary and perks revision has been justified on the grounds of adjusting for inflation and the rising cost of living, ensuring that MPs’ remuneration remains aligned with contemporary economic conditions.

In the aftermath of the violent unrest in Nagpur on March 17, the authorities on Monday demolished the house of Faheem Khan, who is being names as the main accused in the incident. The bulldozer action was carried out in the presence of a large police force, after Khan failed to comply with a 24-hour municipal notice to remove the “unauthorised” sections of his home.

The March 17 violence broke out over the demand to remove the grave of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, escalating into full-blown riots. Mobs torched vehicles, pelted stones, and damaged public property. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that 92 individuals have been arrested so far in connection with the riots.

Fadnavis attributed the violence to the spread of misinformation on social media, which falsely claimed that a holy book and a religious cloth (‘chadar’) had been set on fire. “That misinformation led to the stone-pelting attacks and arson in Nagpur,” he said at a press briefing.

The Maharashtra government has taken a stern position against those responsible, with Fadnavis announcing plans to recover the costs of the damage from the rioters. “If they refuse to pay, we will recover the amount by auctioning their property. Bulldozer action will be taken wherever required,” he said.

Faheem Khan, identified as a leader of the Minorities Democratic Party, is accused of editing and circulating provocative content online that glorified the violence, according to the Cyber Cell and DCP Lohit Matani.

According to the Cyber Cell report, Faheem Khan, identified as a leader of the Minorities Democratic Party, was arrested on March 19 in an accusation of circulating provocative content online that glorified the violence in Nagpur region.

The demolition comes despite Supreme Court guidelines issued in November 2023, which instructed states to follow due legal procedures before carrying out demolition drives. The court ruling, passed by a bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan, emphasized protection of citizen rights and proper legal process.