Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde during an exclusive interview for the launch episode of ‘Pulse Maharashtra’ on The Hindu’s YouTube channel. Photo: YouTube/The Hindu
Speaking elaborately on the Kunal Kamra controversy for the first time, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Saturday that people should not misuse their rights in a democracy.
However, he clarified that he does not support the violence by Shiv Sena workers at the studio where Mr. Kamra allegedly made offensive remarks against Mr. Shinde as part of a show.
In an exclusive interview for the launch episode of ‘Pulse Maharashtra’ on The Hindu’s YouTube channel on Saturday, Mr. Shinde hinted at the Opposition party’s involvement in the incident.
“I am a peace-loving person. I tell everyone, they should let me work in peace. I don’t provoke anyone. I keep working though people level allegations against me. But I never respond to allegations with counter-allegations. I reply to them with my work. That’s why I could succeed as the common man’s CM,” he said.
Attack on studio
Asked about the violence by his party members, he said, “I will not support the violence that happened at the studio. But in a democracy, in the name of right to freedom of expression, to defame someone, to insult someone, is not right. Nobody should, in a democracy, misuse their rights, or follow anarchy. Everyone has rights. But we cannot take away [rights] of someone else.”
Hinting at the Opposition party’s [the Shiv Sena-UBT] involvement, he said, “Like someone was continuously levelling allegations against me that I had brought in an unconstitutional government. I have nothing to do with these things. I keep working. And the people have proved that they are with me. They [Opposition party] have to think. They have to introspect,” he said.
He congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the passage of the amended Waqf Bill in Parliament, slamming the Shiv Sena (UBT) for opposing it. He said that his party was the true flag-bearer of Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology. “Modiji must be congratulated as he has ended corruption. There was no appeal in the earlier Waqf law. Entire village was claimed by Waqf once in Maharashtra. Several such incidents have been reported in the past. Now, there will be transparency,” he said.
Asked about the Opposition’s criticism comparing them [the BJP and the Shiv Sena] to the founder of Pakistan, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, he said, “Those who stay with Rahul Gandhi will see only Jinnah. What else can be expected of them?”
(You can watch the video interview on ‘Pulse Maharashtra’, a show launched on The Hindu’s YouTube channel on Saturday)
Published – April 05, 2025 10:09 pm IST