Calling a ‘Gaddar’ is No Attack”: UBT Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray defended comedian Kunal Kamra amid the controversy Kamra making an insult calling Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde "gaddar" (traitor). Talking to the press on March 24, 2025, Thackeray stated, "Calling 'gaddar' a 'gaddar' is not an attack on anybody," and asked people to listen to the whole context of the show of Kamra.

Thackeray made the comments in the wake of an outcry from the followers of Shinde, after which Kamra's caricature of him was ridiculed during a recent stand-up comedy performance. 

It only worsened with Shiv Sena members who aligned themselves with Shinde vandalizing the building where Kamra had performed, causing damage to property on a huge scale.

On hearing of the vandalism, Thackeray distinguished the initial Shiv Sena from the actions of the Shinde faction, referring to them as "gaddar sena" and asserting that true Shiv Sainiks would never engage in such an action. He highlighted that individuals who betray the party cannot claim to embody its ideals.

The episode has also triggered arguments over freedom of expression and political satire in India, with Thackeray jumping to Kamra's defense to assert his freedom to express his opinion. 

As tensions escalate in Maharashtra's politics, Thackeray's words also reflect on the current split within the Shiv Sena and the complexities of navigating political speech in contemporary India.