New Delhi: Actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut is again at the receiving end for her remarks on the now-repealed farm laws with her own party distancing from the statement. The Mandi MP, while speaking to the reporters outside Lok Sabha, backed the Farm Bill and urged the farmers to themselves demand for it to be rolled back. Ranaut quickly expressed her regret over her remarks after the party distanced itself for the statement, calling it her “personal views.”
"I know this will be controversial… but I feel the farm laws that were repealed should be brought back. The farmers themselves should demand it. They are a pillar of strength for the nation's development and I want to appeal to them – demand the laws back for your own good," Kangana Ranaut said.
The BJP, however, quickly distanced from Ranaut's statement, calling it her personal views.
Gaurav Bhatia, BJP's spokesperson, said that these are her "personal views" which should not be construed as party's stance on the matter.
"Kangana Ranaut is not authorised to make such a statement on behalf of the BJP and it doesn't depict the BJP's view on the farm bills," Bhatia said.
#WATCH | BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia says, “On the social media platforms, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut’s statement on the farm bills that was withdrawn by central govt, is going viral. I want to make it clear that this statement is a personal statement of her. Kangana Ranaut is not… pic.twitter.com/hZmJ8j7Qf8
— ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2024
Ranuat, in a post on X, said, "My views on farm laws are personal and they don't represent the party's stand on those Bills." The Mandi MP further said that she takes her words back amid row over her remarks on farm laws.
Releasing a video message on the incident, she said, "I have to keep in mind that I am not just an artist but also a BJP worker. My opinions should not be personal and should be the party's stand. I regret and take my words back if my comments have disappointed anyone."
Do listen to this, I stand with my party regarding Farmers Law. Jai Hind 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/wMcc88nlK2
— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) September 25, 2024
Kangana Ranaut, whose latest film Emergency is currently seeking a censor certificate, has already faced reprimand from the BJP over previous comments regarding the farmers' protests. Last month, she suggested that a "Bangladesh-like situation" could have emerged in India during those protests if the Centre had not intervened decisively.
In 2020, as the protests gained momentum, she reportedly misidentified a woman farmer from Punjab, mistakenly referring to her as Bilkis Bano. This incident resurfaced in June this year after a female CISF officer confronted Kangana.
Congress, AAP Slam Kangana
Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) criticised Kangana Ranaut, asserting that "these black laws will never be brought back… no matter how hard Modi and his MPs try."
"More than 750 farmers were martyred… only then did the Modi government wake up and these black laws were withdrawn. Now BJP MPs are planning to bring them back… but Congress is with the farmers," party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said.
AAP's Balbir Singh also took a jibe at the actor.
"Just ask her what are the three farm laws. I can guarantee you she would not be able to answer. All she is doing is comedy. Please don't take her seriously," Mr Singh told reporters when asked about Ms Ranaut's comments.
AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang addressed reporters, stating that discussing the reinstatement of the agricultural laws “is an insult to millions of farmers and the 750 farmers who sacrificed their lives for the cause.” He urged Prime Minister Modi to respond and take immediate action against Kangana Ranaut if he "truly" supports the farmers.