BookMyShow removes Kunal Kamra amid Shiv Sena pressure
Mumbai: In a significant development, stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has been removed from the artist listings and content catalogue of BookMyShow, the popular online ticketing platform owned by Big Tree Entertainment Pvt Ltd.
The move followed a formal request made by Rahool N Kanal, youth leader and social media head of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, urging the platform to refrain from hosting Kamra’s shows. Subsequently, all content related to the comedian has been taken down, and his name has been removed from the artist search results on the portal.
Shiv Sena thanks BookMyShow for the action
Rahool Kanal expressed his appreciation for the platform’s swift response. In a letter addressed to Big Tree Entertainment Pvt Ltd, Kanal stated, “I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the continued support of your team to take the said artist out of your sale and promotion listing. I thank you for even taking him out of the BookMyShow search history.”
He further remarked, “Thank you for keeping your portal clean and keeping such artists out of the list of pure entertainment, because we all being Mumbaikars love and believe in every form of art but not personal agendas.”
Allegations of defamation and incitement
The youth leader had previously submitted a letter on 2 April, claiming that Kamra had been involved in a sustained campaign of defamation against high-ranking political figures.
“Kamra has been observed to engage in a sustained campaign of vilification and defamation, targeting the Prime Minister of India, Chief Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers, and other public figures. These actions appear to be part of a broader criminal conspiracy, driven by ulterior motives that extend far beyond the realm of humour or satire,” he alleged.
He further stated that the comedian’s statements were “premeditated, scripted, provocative, and malicious,” and that they “consistently crossed ethical and legal boundaries.”
According to Kanal, such statements “not only hurt the sentiments of the public at large but also have the potential to incite public mischief and disrupt social harmony.”
Safety and legal proceedings ongoing
Kanal emphasised that giving Kamra a platform in Mumbai could be interpreted as endorsing his views.
“By providing a platform for his performances, BookMyShow inadvertently lends credibility and reach to an individual whose actions threaten public order, particularly in a vibrant and diverse city like Mumbai, where your company is headquartered,” he said.
This development comes amid growing backlash against Kamra for his recent performance, where he reportedly referred to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as a traitor in a song. Three legal cases have been filed against the comedian, though the Madras High Court has granted him temporary protection from arrest.
The Mumbai Police have begun recording statements from the cameraperson and other staff members involved in the show’s production. Authorities have assured Kamra’s safety when he presents himself for questioning. However, despite receiving three summons, Kamra has not yet appeared before the police to give his statement.
IANS