Withdraw Padmashri, National Awards given to Kangana: MVA

The actor triggered a controversy by describing India’s Independence in 1947 as ‘bheek’ or alms. In a 24-second video clip that has gone viral on social media, she said that the country had only achieved true independence in 2014.

The allies of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over actor Kangana Ranaut’s controversial statement on India’s independence. The Shiv Sena on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president JP Nadda must clarify the meaning of the statement and withdraw the awards given to her.

Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut recently triggered a controversy by referring to India’s Independence as ‘alms’ from the British. (AFP PHOTO.)

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that the Government of India must take back all the awards it has given to the actor. Congress, also a part of the ruling coalition in Maharashtra, called Ranaut a “puppet” of the BJP.

The actor triggered a controversy by describing India’s Independence in 1947 as ‘bheek’ or alms. In a 24-second video clip that has gone viral on social media, Ranaut also said: “And we got real freedom in 2014.” She was speaking at an event organised by a news channel.

Senior Congress leader Tariq Anwar said that there is likely to be a conspiracy by the BJP behind the remarks by Kangana Ranaut. “She is an ardent Modi admirer and has never spoken against him. BJP’s central leadership has not uttered a word on her remarks. This raises doubts that there could be a conspiracy by the BJP to defame the freedom fighters and glorify the Modi rule. The Padmashri should immediately be taken back and a case of sedition be registered against her,” he said in Mumbai. Mumbai Congress chief Bhai Jagtap said that they would stage protests in various parts of the city against Ranaut.

“BJP will have to speak out on this issue. All the National Awards given to Kangana ben should be taken back. If the government does not take back these awards, then it does not have the right to celebrate the Amrut Mahotsav (75th year) of Independence,” Raut said.

Maharashtra Congress’s general secretary Sachin Sawant tweeted, “Kangana is BJP’s Jhansi Ki Rani who dares to insult the freedom struggle and sacrifices of the freedom fighters, martyrs by saying ‘Azadi Bhik Mein Mili Hai’. Such puppets are nurtured by BJP deliberately for this filth. These parrots are not the real culprits but their masters are”

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said that the actor must have taken an overdose of some addictive grown in Malana Valley of Himachal Pradesh.