Actor and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kangana Ranaut withdrew her remarks on repealed farm laws after the party said it did not support her comments.
Kangana had called for reinstatement of three controversial farm laws which the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government repealed in 2021 after nationwide protests. But the party said that the statement has been issued by the Mandi MP in personal capacity and that she was not authorised to make such a statement on behalf of the BJP.
Later Kangana withdrew her remarks. “When the farmers’ law was proposed, many of us supported it but our Prime Minister withdrew it with great sensitivity and sympathy. And it is the duty of all of us workers to respect the dignity of his words. I also have to keep this in mind. I am not an artist. I am a worker of the Bharatiya Janata Party and my opinions should be the party’s stand instead of being my own. So if I disappoint anyone with my words and my thinking, I will be sorry and I take my words back,” she was heard saying in a video shared by news agency ANI.
“It doesn’t depict BJP’s view on the farm bills. We disapprove of this statement,” BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia had told news agency ANI after Kangana’s remarks to a TV channel.
What did Kangana Ranauat say?
Kangana Ranaut stirred controversy ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections by saying that the Modi government should bring back the repealed farm laws in the interest of farmers.
“I know this statement could be controversial but the three farm laws should be brought back. The farmers should themselves demand it,” India Today quoted Ranaut as saying.
“Farmers are a pillar of strength in the nation’s development. I want to appeal to them to demand the laws back for their own good,” added the Queen actor.
Modi’s government repealed the three controversial farm laws after a prolonged protest by farmer groups.
Earlier, Haryana BJP president Mohan Lal Badoli also said the party had nothing to do with what Kangana Ranaut said about repealed farm laws. “She keeps saying too many things. But what she says doesn’t become the BJP’s stand,” he said.
Political Row
Kangana’s remark triggered a political row with the Congress launching a sharp attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, saying that the saffron party was using Kangana as a proxy to attack farmers in a calculated move.
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said the party would never let this happen. “More than 750 farmers were martyred while opposing the three black anti-farmer laws. Efforts are being made to bring them back again. We will never let this happen. Haryana will be the first to answer,” Shrinate said in a- post on X with sharing a video of Kangana’s remarks.
Punjab Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa asked the saffron party to clarify its stance on farmers and the farm laws. If the party does not support Ranaut’s remarks, it must take immediate action, he said.
Farmers are a pillar of strength in the nation’s development. I want to appeal to them to demand the laws back for their own good.
The remarks on farm laws by Kangana Ranauat come days agead of assembly polls for 90-member Haryana house on October 5.
