GUWAHATI: Undeterred by the controversy surrounding his recent "traitor" remark about Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, comedian Kunal Kamra has released a new parody song targeting Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and accusing the BJP of authoritarian rule. The video was posted on Wednesday, March 26, coinciding with Mumbai Police issuing Kamra a second summons after rejecting his request for more time to appear for questioning.
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The satirical song, a parody of the classic Bollywood track Hawa Hawai from Mr India, is titled Aapka Tax Ka Paisa Ho Raha Hai Hawa Hawai (Your Tax Money Is Going to Waste). The lyrics take jabs at the BJP-led government, highlighting concerns over increasing traffic congestion and collapsing bridges. Some of the lines include: "Traffic badhane yeh hai aayi, bridges giraane yeh hai aayi, kehte hai isko tanashahi" (She has come to increase traffic, she has come to bring down bridges, this is called dictatorship).
Further criticising the government’s taxation policies, the song suggests that the middle class bears a heavier tax burden than corporations. The lyrics also reference Sitharaman’s handling of financial policies with lines such as: "Logon ki lootne kamaai, sari waali didi aayi, salary churaane yeh hai aayi, middle class dabaane yeh hai aayi, popcorn khilaane yeh hai aayi, kehte hai isko Nirmala tai" (The sari-clad sister has come to take away people’s hard-earned money, steal salaries, suppress the middle class, and sell expensive popcorn—this is called Nirmala tai).
The mention of "popcorn" is likely an allusion to the controversy over the multiple GST tax slabs imposed on different types of popcorn, a move that had drawn criticism from the opposition earlier this year.
A day before the song’s release, Kamra had shared footage of Shiv Sena workers vandalizing Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, where he had made his "traitor" remark. The video featured another parody song, Hum Hongey Kangal (We Will Be Paupers), as a dig at the state of the economy.
Despite facing backlash and legal action, Kamra remains defiant. He has refused to apologize for his remarks against Shinde but assured full cooperation with the police. "I will not apologize... I don't fear this mob, and I won't be hiding under the bed, waiting for this to die down," he stated, reaffirming his stance amid the ongoing row.