NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday took a satirical jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the occasion of World Laughter Day, cautioning people to “laugh at your own risk”.
Taking to social media platform X, Yadav posted, “‘Vishva Haasya Divas’ par danda tana hai, kyunki Bhajpa raaj mein hansna mana hai. (On World Laughter Day, the stick is raised, because laughing is forbidden in the BJP’s rule)”
He also issued a warning for the public: “Warning: Laugh at your own risk, the government takes no responsibility.”
Yadav’s jibe comes amid a series of high-profile cases targeting stand-up comedians for their content, notably Kunal Kamra and Samay Raina, whose satirical work has landed them in legal trouble.
These incidents highlight the tension between free speech and political sensitivities in Maharashtra and beyond, where comedians face FIRs, vandalism, and public backlash for their commentary.
Kunal Kamra controversy
Kunal Kamra, known for his biting political satire, faced significant backlash in March 2025 for a stand-up performance at Mumbai’s Habitat Comedy Club, where he altered a popular Hindi song to label Maharashtra Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde a “gaddar” (traitor). The remark, referencing Shinde’s 2022 defection that split the Shiv Sena, provoked outrage from Shinde’s faction. Shiv Sena workers vandalized the venue, and three FIRs were filed against Kamra in Mumbai, Jalgaon, and Nashik.
Samay Raina controversy
Comedian Samay Raina faced legal action over his YouTube show India’s Got Latent, which sparked outrage in February 2025 after guest Ranveer Allahbadia made a crass remark about parents and sex. The comment, deemed obscene, led to multiple FIRs against Raina, Allahbadia, and others in Assam, Mumbai, and Jaipur.