Shiv Sena’s Rahool Kanal on Saturday (April 5) said that ticketing platform BookMyShow has removed stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra from its artist and event listings. Kanal handles social media for the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction. He thanked BookMyShow CEO Ashish Hemrajani for “keeping the platform clean” and excluding Kamra from what he described as a list of “pure entertainment.”
In a letter to Hemrajani, Kanal expressed gratitude for the decision and wrote, “I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for your continued support of you team to take the said artist out of your sale and promotion listing, thank you for even taking him out of the book my show search history. Your belief in maintaining peace and at the same time respecting our emotions has been instrumental.”
Kanal stated that while Mumbaikars value artistic expression, they do not support the use of art to push personal agendas. He also praised BookMyShow’s leadership and customer-first approach in addressing the issue swiftly.
“We deeply value your commitment to BookMyShow’s values that align with the support, and customer experience, your vision and leadership are truly inspiring, thank you for giving us your team and getting this cleared at the earliest. Thank you,” Kanal said.
The controversy follows an incident in which Kanal and other Shiv Sainiks were booked for allegedly vandalising the studio where Kamra performed. During the performance, Kamra had reportedly made a veiled reference to CM Eknath Shinde, sparking political backlash.
Mumbai Police have issued three notices to Kamra, who is believed to be in Puducherry, seeking his personal appearance. Kamra is yet to respond to any of them.