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Ahead of Mumbai return, Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut gets Y+ CRPF security cover
In view of the threat perception to the actor after her recent spat with Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on social media, home ministry provides her Y+ category security
Kangana Ranaut has been given Y-plus category security and will be protected by 10 armed commandos, the Union home ministry said on Monday, prompting the Bollywood actor to thank home minister Amit Shah and declare that no one could crush a patriot. The decision to provide 24x7 security comes two days before Ranaut, who is in her home state of Himachal Pradesh and had likened Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, plans to return to Mumbai.
Ranaut, whose comments led to a spat with Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut over social media last week, said she felt unsafe in Mumbai after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput and also spoke of drug use in a section of the film industry.
SHE’S A DAUGHTER OF HIMACHAL, SAYS CM
Describing the Queen star as a daughter of Himachal Pradesh, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur issued a video statement on Monday, welcoming the decision to provide her with CRPF security.
He said the central and the state governments are providing security to the actor and would do whatever necessary for her security. “I have got information that an 11-member commando team of the CRPF has been provided by the ministry of home affairs for her security. I welcome this decision and also express my gratitude to the Union home minister. Her security is important for us,” he said.
A Union home ministry official explained that Y-plus category central cover entails the deployment of about 10 armed commandos who will work in shifts around the clock, he said.
Ranaut, often in the eye of the storm for her provocative comments, took to Twitter to express her gratitude for the security being provided to her. “This shows that no one can crush a patriot in the country. I am thankful to home minister Amit Shah,” she said.
In his statement, the Himachal Pradesh chief minister said that the state police would provide security at the actor’s Manali residence and he had directed director general of police Sanjay Kundu to assess the security threat. “If it is necessary, Himachal Pradesh is ready to provide her security during her tours,” he said.
On Sunday, he said his government had decided to provide the actor security after her father and sister sought protection for her.
Kundu said that on the chief minister’s direction, an assessment of the threat perception to the actor was carried out. “We submitted our report to the home department. The ministry of home affairs has decided to provide the CRPF security to Kangana. The state’s intelligence agencies will be assessing the threat perception to her from time to time.”
Though Kangana belongs to Bhambla village in the state’s Mandi district, she has constructed a house in the scenic tourist town of Manali, where she is staying with her family at present. She will be returning to Mumbai on September 9.
WHAT TRIGGERED THE FACEOFF
BJP leader Ram Kadam recently asked the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government to provide police protection to Ranaut since “she wanted to expose the Bollywood drug nexus”.
Responding to Kadam’s tweet, the actor said she feared Mumbai Police more than the “movie mafia”, and would prefer security either from Himachal Pradesh or the Centre.
Reacting strongly to her comment, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut purportedly said, “We kindly request her not to come to Mumbai. This is nothing but an insult to Mumbai Police.” Hitting back, Ranaut tweeted, “Why is Mumbai feeling like Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir?” The actor also tagged a September 1 news report on Raut asking her not to return to Mumbai if she was afraid of the city police.
Raut had on Friday urged the Maharashtra government to take action against people defaming the city police. He also asked Ranaut to tour PoK first to see the situation prevailing there.
In a tweet stating that she would be returning to Mumbai on September 9, Ranaut had dared anyone to stop her. Sena MLA Pratap Saranik hit back with a slap threat and said she should be arrested for sedition.
Ranaut also asked Raut to apologise for his remarks against her. Raut on Sunday said he would consider doing so only if she apologises for her “insulting” remarks against Mumbai and Maharashtra.
SHANTA KUMAR WRITES TO UDDHAV
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader from Himachal Pradesh and former Union minister Shanta Kumar has written to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray that the “brave daughter of Himachal” is the only actor who has been promoting nationalism in Bollywood. “She recently wrote that her agenda was nationalism only. In the political sphere, the Shiv Sena is the only nationalist party after the BJP,” Shanta wrote, adding, “So, I expect the Shiv Sena to support Kangana.”
