Rahul Gandhi, Anurag Kashyap, Swara Bhasker support Kunal Kamra, call airlines ‘cowards’

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh/New Delhi, January 31

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The mid-air row involving television anchor Arnab Goswami and stand-up comic Kunal Kamra is far from over.

It all started after Kamra shared a video on Twitter where he could be heard asking uncomfortable questions to his co-passenger Goswami, including “viewers today want to know if Arnab is a coward or a nationalist?”

Taking cognizance of the viral social media post, Indigo, Air India and SpiceJet have temporarily banned Kamra for allegedly heckling Goswami in a flight from Mumbai to Lucknow on Tuesday.

Reacting to the same, here’s what Bollywood stars have tweeted.

Article 15 director Anubhav Sinha said that the comedian’s act under “ordinary circumstances” should have been deemed “ridiculous”.

Sinha wrote: “Of course what Kunal did is ridiculous under ordinary circumstances. But these are no ordinary times. These are times when a union minister instructs all airlines to ban a stand up comedian because he insulted Goebbels clan. So stop trying to sound ‘proper’ please”.

Of course what Kunal did is ridiculous under ordinary circumstances. But these are no ordinary times. These are times when a union minister instructs all airlines to ban a stand up comedian because he insulted Goebbels clan. So stop trying to sound ‘proper’ please.

— Anubhav Sinha (@anubhavsinha) January 29, 2020

‘If you Fuck with our man this is what will happen’
Imagine YouTube Banning Kunal Kamra, or Airtel cancelling all his internet connections including his phone. Do you think this is impossible???? Why do you think Vistara has not banned him???
Dictatorship has arrived my friends.

— Anubhav Sinha (@anubhavsinha) January 29, 2020

Richa Chadha questioned why nothing happened when Pragya Thakur held up a flight because she wanted “first-class” seat.

“Genuinely asking in light of this… a flight was held up and an elected representative said “first class is my right”. Was she put on any no-fly list for causing a delay? We’re co-passengers who asked her persistent questions banned? Does ANYONE have more info? https://twitter.com/richachadha/status/1222360548802580481 …”, the actress wrote.

Genuinely asking in light of this… a flight was held up and an elected representative said “first class is my right”.
Was she put on any no-fly list for causing a delay? We’re co-passengers who asked her persistent questions banned ? Does ANYONE have more info? https://t.co/kbEB2XgzEa pic.twitter.com/uXhbBZXzsC

— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) January 29, 2020

In a series of tweets, filmmaker Hansal Mehta said that he had “mixed feelings” to it.

He wrote: “I did not like the way @kunalkamra88 heckled Arnab on a flight. I felt it was unnecessary and uncool coming from someone who usually criticizes with such sharp wit. But seeing the even more uncool response by airlines (with govt blessings) to his behavior I have mixed feelings…”

I did not like the way @kunalkamra88 heckled Arnab on a flight. I felt it was unnecessary and uncool coming from someone who usually criticizes with such sharp wit. But seeing the even more uncool response by airlines (with govt blessings) to his behavior I have mixed feelings…

— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) January 29, 2020

Kunal Kamra’s act now seems almost like the only option to expose an establishment and its stooges. He called Arnab out in a very crude way and the response was a vulgar show of authoritarianism. Kamra’s protest still does not feel right to me but i almost feel it was necessary.

— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) January 29, 2020

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap reacted to Anubhav Sinha’s post. The director wrote: “Totally, you beat people on our behalf you won’t be arrested, you lynch people , you will be let go and garlanded, you kill people in riots – they will let you off with social work .. the messaging sent out by this government is very clear.. https://twitter.com/anubhavsinha/status/1222408260432490496 …”

Totally, you beat people on our behalf you won’t be arrested, you lynch people , you will be let go and garlanded, you kill people in riots – they will let you off with social work .. the messaging sent out by this government is very clear.. https://t.co/RHMaCUNFgo

— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) January 29, 2020

Actress Swara Bhasker hilariously reacted to Air India’s tweet on suspending Kamra.

“@kunalkamra88 how will you survive this devastating blow? https://twitter.com/airindiain/status/1222205030427578369 …,” said Swara.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 @kunalkamra88 how will you survive this devastating blow? https://t.co/VU5aZx5yXB

— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) January 28, 2020

Alia Bhatt’s mother, veteran actress Soni Razdan, has bashed the four airlines that have banned Kunal Kamra. She tweeted: “Airlines seem to have suddenly turned into headmasters. Dear God whatever next …”

Airlines seem to have suddenly turned into headmasters. Dear God whatever next …

— Soni Razdan (@Soni_Razdan) January 29, 2020

Even, Congress’s Rahul Gandhi strongly criticised the move of four airlines to ban comedian Kunal Kamra.

“The ban imposed on #kunalkamra by 4 airlines is the act of a coward leveraging his influence with the Govt to silence a critic. Those who use their “news” cameras as 24×7 tools of propaganda, should show some spine when the camera is turned on them,” his tweet read.

The ban imposed on #kunalkamra by 4 airlines is the act of a coward leveraging his influence with the Govt to silence a critic.

Those who use their “news” cameras as 24×7 tools of propaganda, should show some spine when the camera is turned on them. https://t.co/NNwVcq4ZOj

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 29, 2020

After the ban, the comedian flooded twitter with witty tweets which have amused netizens.

Kamra wrote: “To all you ‘Nationalists’…A member of the Anti-national club approached Arnab for a dialogue, he could educate me better on national interests & how I should keep nation first… instead of that he chose to watch some ****** movie & not engage. Arnab your mask is off….”

Kamra also took sarcastic jibes at the situation and took a dig at Indigo after the airline barred him for flying. “Thank you Indigo a six month suspension is honestly very kind of you…Modiji might be suspending Air India forever,” he wrote.

Thank you Indigo a six month suspension is honestly very kind of you…
Modiji might be suspending Air India forever. https://t.co/ari4erSE5F

— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) January 28, 2020

On Air India slapping a ban on him, he wrote: “I had 4kgs excess luggage once, your card machine wasn’t working & I didn’t have cash…He said ‘Jane do sir’…I said ‘Nahi, aapki airline debt main hai, Main paise de ke jaunga’…I waited till he could figure how to take my money. Acha Sila diya tune mere pyaar ka…”

I had 4kgs excess luggage once, your card machine wasn’t working & I didn’t have cash…

He said “Jane do sir”

I said “Nahi, aapki airline debt main hai, Main paise de ke jaunga.”

I waited till he could figure how to take my money.

Acha Sila diya tune mere pyaar ka… https://t.co/lLcLAhvFTR

— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) January 28, 2020

Replying to the SpiceJet ban, he wrote: “Modiji can I walk yaan uspe bhi baan hai…” “Right Wing – Goli maaro saalon ko…Liberals – We must not disturb people on flights & respect an individuals private space,” he wrote. — With IANS

Modiji can I walk yaan uspe bhi baan hai…

😭😭😭 https://t.co/tDDfgK6JxT

— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) January 29, 2020