#TGLife
This week is witnessing a brewing controversy over a video that was recently uploaded by comedian Kunal Kamra on Twitter. Kamra confronted journalist Arnab Goswami about the latter’s ideology and political stance, recorded the video and uploaded it on social media. In the video, Kamra can be heard asking some questions to Arnam while the journalist opts to remain calm and avoid responding.The stand up comic’s conduct has drawn both support and criticism. While supporters say that some points raised by Kamra are fair, critics state that his language is not exactly polite, and that this is in fact a breach of the privacy of Arnab Goswami.
Following the incident, IndiGO Airlines, on whose plane the incident occured, banned Kamra from flying with them for six months. After this, Union Civil Aviation Minister ‘advised’ all other airline companies to ban Kamra, and several companies acted to do the same. The issue gave rise to debate on several points. Was Kamra’s conduct right or wrong? Were other airline companies apart from IndiGo right in banning Kamra on their flights?
In the light of this incident many netizens also observed that Padnya Thakur, a member of the ruling party had also caused inconvenience to passengers when she refused to vacate her seat and caused the plane to delay. However, she was not punished by the authorities or by airline companies for her actions. Similarly, a journalist from Republic TV had earlier confronted a politician from Bihar in an airline, and was later warned off by staff.
While Kamra’s post prompted a quick ban from different airline companies, social media had a field day making light of the controversy. Several tweets surfaced on twitter with different bodies ranging from national panipuri association (which refused to serve pani puri to Kamra for six months) to national pedestrians union (which banned Kamra from walking on footpaths across India) placing a ban on the comedian.
I think the entire issue is a little blown up beyond proportions-the ban as well as the reaction to it. If the issue was between Kamra, Arnab, and IndiGO, why did all other airlines move to ban Kamra? Secondly, why is this issue being politicised to such a huge extent? If you want to debate, then debate on issues that matter; not on such petty controversies.
”Sushrut Chafadkar,
engineer, Margao
I find it rather hilarious that Arnab and Republic TV are now concerned with privacy on planes. There are multiple instances on camera of Republic TV reporters doing the exact same thing. Any bans? Nope. Justice isn’t just about the law, it’s about the law being applied equally to everybody. If Kunal is banned then why not ban the Republic TV reporters too? Or is it selective due to his political views?
”Warren Viegas,
comedy production executive, Panaji
