Kangana Ranaut ‘sorry' as actor-BJP MP withdraws 3 farm laws statement
Actor-BJP MP Kangana Ranaut said she might have disappointed many with her statement on the contentious laws which she regretted.
Kangana Ranaut of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday withdrew her comments calling for bringing back the controversial three farm laws that were repealed in 2021, and said those were her personal opinion and not the party's.
Kangana Ranaut added that she might have disappointed many with her statement on the contentious laws which she regretted.
“In the last few days the media asked me some questions on farmers' law and I suggested that the farmers should request PM Modi to bring back the farmers' law. Many people are disappointed and disheartened by my statement,” Kangana Ranaut said in a video statement.
“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,” the BJP Mandi MP added.
As the actor-turned-politician's remarks drew the Opposition ire, the BJP on Tuesday night distanced itself from her the comments stating that Kangana Ranaut is “not authorised” to make such statements on the party's behalf.
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia in a video message said the remarks are “personal statement” of Kangana Ranaut and doesn't depict the the party's view on farm bills.
“On the social media platforms, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut's statement on the farm bills that was withdrawn by central government is going viral. I want to make it clear that this statement is a personal statement of her. Kangana Ranaut is not authorised to make such a statement on behalf of BJP and it doesn't depict BJP's view on the farm bills. We disapprove of this statement,” Gaurav Bhatia said.
Responding the BJP spokesperson's statement, Kangana Ranaut acknowledged that it was her personal view.
“Absolutely, my views on Farmers Laws are personal and they don’t represent party’s stand on those Bills. Thanks,” Kangana Ranaut wrote on social media platform X.
What did Kangama Ranaut say?
Speaking at an event in Mandi district on Tuesday, the actor-politician said the three farm laws faced protests only in some states.
"Farmers are a pillar of strength in India's progress. Only in some states, they had objected to farm laws. I appeal with folded hands that farm laws should be brought back in the interest of farmers," she had said.
She said the country is on the path of progress and restoring the farm laws would ensure better financial stability and growth for farmers, ultimately benefiting the agricultural sector.
“I know this statement could be controversial, but the three farm laws should be brought back. Farmers themselves should demand it,” she said.
Congress slams Kangana Ranaut
The statement did go down well with the Opposition as Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja criticised the actor, calling her “habitually controversial”.
“I think she is mentally unstable. Some people are accustomed to creating controversy, and the BJP benefits from her statements. She talks about farmers, Punjab, the Emergency, and Rahul Gandhi. There are other MPs who never make such remarks,” the Congress leader said.
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also shared the video of Ranaut on X and said, "'All three farm laws should be brought back': BJP MP Kangana Ranaut. More than 750 farmers were martyred while protesting against the three black farmer laws. Efforts are being made to bring them back."
"We will never let that happen. Haryana will answer first," she said in an apparent reference to the assembly polls in Haryana.
Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera also shared the video on X and said it was the BJP's "real thinking".
"How many times will you deceive the farmers, you two-faced people?" Pawan Khera said in a post in Hindi.
Kangana Ranaut's recent controversy
Notably, this is not the first time, the BJP has distanced itself from Kangana Ranaut's remarks and stated that she is “not authorised” to make such statements on the party's behalf.
Last month, the BJP distanced itself from the Mandi MP's statement about the farmers' agitation and also asked her to refrain from giving such statements in the future.
"The statement made by BJP MP Kangana Ranaut in the context of the farmers' movement is not the opinion of the party. Bharatiya Janata Party expresses disagreement with the statement made by Kangana Ranaut. On behalf of the party, Kangana Ranaut is neither permitted nor authorized to make statements on party policy issues," the BJP said in a release.
"On behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Kangana Ranaut has been directed not to make any such statements in future. Bharatiya Janata Party is committed to following the principles of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas' and social harmony," it added.
The actor had then claimed that farmer protests were a build up to a “Bangladesh-like situation” in India and several killings and rapes were reported from the protest sites.
About the three farm laws
The three laws -- Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act; The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act; and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act – were repealed in November 2021.
The farmers' protest started at the fag-end of November 2020 and ended after Parliament repealed the three laws. The legislations came into force in June 2020 and were repealed in November 2021.
(With inputs from agencies)