On March 16 20250, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a podcast with Lex Fridman said criticism is the “soul of democracy". He even seemed to welcome criticism. But a week later, on March 23 in Mumbai, tolerance took a U-turn as stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra's joke landed him in a soup.
Shiv Sena's Shinde faction workers went on a rampage at a Mumbai hotel after stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra's show where he made a "gaddar" (traitor) jibe at Maharashtra's deputy chief minister and Sena chief, Eknath Shinde.
Turns out, criticism in India, especially when it lands too close to power, comes with a hefty consequence...
Video Producer: Shohini Bose
Video Editor: Rajbir Singh