Bharatiya Janata Party's Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut has once again sparked controversy after she suggested that the three farm laws repealed after prolonged protests by farmers should be rolled back. As the actor-turned-politician's remarks irked the opposition, the BJP on Tuesday night distanced itself from his comments, saying that Kangana Ranaut was “inappropriate” for making such statements on behalf of the party. No option”.
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said in a video message that the remarks were Kangana Ranaut's “personal statement” and did not reflect the party's view on farm bills.
“On social media platforms, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut's statement on farm bills withdrawn by central government is going viral. I want to clarify that this statement is his personal statement. Kangana Ranaut is not authorized to make such a statement on behalf of BJP and it does not reflect BJP's view on farm bills. We disapprove of this statement,” said Gaurav Bhatia.
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Responding to the BJP spokesperson's statement, Kangana Ranaut admitted that it was her personal opinion.
“Of course, my views on the farmers' laws are personal and do not represent the party's position on these bills. Thank you,” Kangana Ranaut wrote on social media platform X.
Earlier, the actor-turned-politician had told the media, “I know this statement may be controversial, but the three farm laws should be brought back. The farmers themselves should demand it.
The statement went down well with the opposition as Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja criticized the actor, calling him “habitually controversial”.
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“I think she is mentally unstable. Some people are used to creating controversy, and her statements benefit the BJP. She talks about farmers, Punjab, emergency and Rahul Gandhi. “There are other MPs who never make such remarks,” the Congress leader said.
Congress spokesperson Supriya Srinte also shared a video of Ranaut on X saying 'three farm rules should be brought back': BJP MP Kangana Ranaut. More than 750 farmers were martyred while protesting the Three Black Peasant Laws. Efforts are ongoing. Made to bring them back.”
“We will never allow this to happen. Haryana will answer first,” he said in an apparent reference to the assembly elections in Haryana.
Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera also shared the video on X and said it was the BJP's “genuine thinking”.
“How many times will you deceive the peasants, two-faced people?” Pawan Khera said in a post in Hindi.
Kangana Ranaut's Recent Controversies
Notably, this is not the first time, the BJP has distanced itself from Kangana Ranaut's remarks and said that she is “not authorized” to make such statements on behalf of the party.
Last month, the BJP distanced itself from the Mandi MP's statement about farmers' protests and also asked him to refrain from making such statements in future.
“BJP MP Kangana Ranaut's statement in the context of farmers' movement is not the opinion of the party. Bharatiya Janata Party disagrees with Kangana Ranaut's statement. Neither Kangana Ranaut nor the party has given her permission. is not and is not authorized to make statements on party policy issues,” the BJP said in a release.
“On behalf of Bharatiya Janata Party, Kangana Ranaut has been directed not to make any such statement in future. Bharatiya Janata Party is 'Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikas, Sab Ka Vishwas and Sab Ka Prayas' and Social Hum Committed to following the principles of harmony,” he added.
The actor then claimed that farmers' protests were the basis of a “Bangladesh-like situation” in India and that several murders and rapes were reported from the protest sites.
About the three laws of form
Three Acts — Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act; Agreement on Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Price Assurance and Farm Services Act; and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act – was repealed in November 2021.
Farmers' protests began in late November 2020 and ended after Parliament repealed all three laws. The legislation came into effect in June 2020 and was repealed in November 2021.
(with input from agencies)