Kunal Kamra to sue YouTube after his video on "Castelessness" gets red-flagged
New Delhi: Comedian Kunal Kamra, alleging that YouTube is discriminating against his videos by putting up a warning message to viewers, has said that he will fight against the social media platform in court.
The 25th episode of his show ‘Shut Up Ya Kunal’ on Saturday, February 25, featured Harvard scholar Dr Suraj Yengde speaking about the caste system in India.
The video carried a message from YouTube, “Viewer discretion is advised: The following content may contain topics related to suicide or self-harm,” asking the viewer to confirm his/her decision to watch the video.
Dr Suraj Yengde on Sunday questioned YouTube on Twitter its message leading to the video, also asking Kunal Kamra, “something wrong?”
Host Kamra too asked YouTube on Sunday to explain the message, which he called “gatekeeping of the worse kind for content”.
In its reply to Kamra, YouTube stated that Kamra's appeal to remove the warning message, was rejected, and wrote, “We’ve looked at your content carefully, and have confirmed that age restrictions are still appropriate. We know it may be disappointing but it’s important that we keep the YouTube community protected.”
Kamra, on his Twitter handle, replied to YouTube on Sunday afternoon, “Hi @YouTubeIndia for your blatant discrimination we will have to settle this legally…”
The one-and-a-half-hour video on ‘Castelessness’, has Kamra interviewing Dr Yengde on a ‘casteless India’. The legal note with the video says it is an attempt to promote scientific temperament through satire and not meant to disrespect any religious, regional, or social groups.
The video shows the duo discussing related issues, under various chapters, including ‘Owners of the Caste Factory’, ‘Brahmanical Media’, ‘Beyond Hindu-Muslimization’, ‘Democracy Today’, ‘Dalit Panthers, ‘Global Allies’ and ‘Reservation Debate’.
The scholar, speaking on the multiple characters of the caste system in the Indian society, explains the different meanings that could be accorded to ‘castelessness’. It could, for one, be a beautiful and deeply spiritual experience if one could surpass ‘artificial masks’ through genuine introspection, but it could also an act of ‘sitting on a heap of privileges’, he adds.
The video also shows the scholar saying that the way women were treated in the archaic Indian social setup displayed a need to express one’s superiority, while slaves were treated as commodities that had to be subjugated.
He further says that the census calculation that began with the British era worried the upper castes as it showed the division in society.
Speaking on Buddhism, Dr Yengde said that Buddha challenged the hierarchies in the Hindu society. “There were attempts by Brahmins to kills Buddha, as he displayed a lot of compassion,” he adds.
Asked to comment on ‘Dalit Panthers’, a social organization that was launched in Maharashtra to combat caste discrimination, the scholar says that the group had highly literate members who were poets, writers and novelists, whose words ‘aroused a certain emotion in you’. He cites an example of a Dalit woman being denuded and punished in front of a crowd and the response of a member of ‘Dalit Panthers’ that ‘the punishment to the Dalit woman was paltry, but had grown in measure when compared to the respect shown to a lifeless national flag that could not save her honour.
Episode 25 of Shut Up Ya Kunal featuring the esteemed @surajyengde a dynamic young thought leader in the fight against casteism. Tune in perspectives. https://t.co/CE1ki8A8ra
— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) February 25, 2023
what’s going on @YouTube ?
— suraj yengde (@surajyengde) February 26, 2023
something wrong ? @kunalkamra88 pic.twitter.com/nLvAkvWQZB
Hi @YouTubeIndia for your blatant discrimination we will have to settle this legally… pic.twitter.com/Pc2UxjFesq
— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) February 26, 2023
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Lost a good friend; void cannot be filled: Fadnavis mourns Ajit Pawar’s passing
Mumbai (PTI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday described Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s tragic death in a plane crash as unbelievable, and said he had lost a good friend.
Fadnavis said “today” (January 28) will be a government holiday and there will be a three-day state mourning as a mark of respect to Pawar.
Ajit Pawar’s death has left a void that will never be filled, he said. “After working closely together, it is unbelievable that he is no more,” Fadnavis said.
Talking to reporters, Fadnavis described Pawar as a people’s leader who knew the state well and had a deep understanding of the issues in Maharashtra. He said it takes several years to build and establish such leadership.
Fadnavis said he had apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the tragedy. The CM said he had also spoken with Ajit Pawar’s cousin Supriya Sule and his son Parth Pawar.
“Both (Deputy CM) Eknath Shinde and I are leaving for Baramati now. Once their entire family gathers in Baramati, we will share further details,” he said.
The entire state stands by Pawar’s family and his party NCP in this hour of grief, he added.
Ajit Pawar, 66, and four other persons were killed after an aircraft carrying them crashed in Maharashtra’s Pune district on Wednesday morning, officials said. The incident occurred when the plane carrying Pawar and others landed near Baramati, they said.
Several state BJP leaders, including Ashish Shelar, Ravindra Chavan and Chandrashekhar Bawankule, expressed deep grief over Pawar’s passing.
“This heart-wrenching incident has left the mind numb. Maharashtra has lost an experienced, dutiful and resolute leader,” state minister Shelar said.
Pawar left a distinct imprint on the state’s politics through his strong grip over administration, decisiveness and relentless drive for Maharashtra’s all-round progress. “Firmness, discipline, punctuality and tireless dedication were defining aspects of his personality,” he said.
BJP state president Ravindra Chavan said Maharashtra’s politics was unimaginable without Pawar. He said Pawar was known as a dynamic leader with a powerful command over administration and an unwavering focus on the state’s comprehensive development.
He said Pawar held the record for serving the longest tenure as deputy CM in the state’s history and left an indelible mark while handling key portfolios such as irrigation, energy and finance. “With his passing, Maharashtra has lost a firm, disciplined, punctual and indefatigable leader. This void can never be filled,” Chavan said.
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule described Pawar as a senior friend and guide. “Even now, it is difficult to accept that this tragedy has really happened,” he said. Pawar would be remembered as a true people’s leader who gave clear direction and unstoppable momentum to Maharashtra’s all-round development, Bawankule said.
Recalling Pawar’s immense administrative experience, Bawankule said he had personally sought the NCP leader’s advice on several occasions.
“The loss of Ajitdada is not merely the departure of one leader; it is a profound loss for Maharashtra itself. The nation has lost a visionary statesman, and I have lost a dear elder friend and guide,” Bawankule said, adding that the reality of Pawar no longer being among them felt impossible to accept.
VIDEO | Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis expresses grief over the demise of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar in an aircraft crash. He says, “This morning, a very tragic incident occurred. In extremely unforeseen circumstances, the news of the unfortunate demise of our state’s deputy chief… pic.twitter.com/sKIKJ5FvRW
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 28, 2026
