BJP MP from Mandi and Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut on Wednesday withdrew her statement on farm laws a day after the saffron party distanced itself from her remark and said it “does not depict party’s views”.
“Many people are upset and disappointed by my remarks. When the three farmers law were proposed, a lot of us supported it. But with a lot of sensitivity and sympathy, our PM repealed these laws. It’s the responsibility of all the party workers to treat his words with dignity. I also have to keep in mind that I am no longer just an actor but also a BJP member. My opinions can’t be personal, they have to reflect the party’s stand,” Ranaut said in a video posted on X.
“I regret if I have disappointed anyone with my words or opinions. I take my words back,” she added. Ranaut posted the video with the caption, “I stand with my party regarding Farmers Law.”
This came after Kangana Ranaut recently sought the reinstatement of the three contentious farm laws. Speaking to reporters in her Lok Sabha constituency in Himachal Pradesh, Kangana Ranaut said the laws – rolled back by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in November 2021 after massive agitations – “should be brought back… (and) farmers themselves should demand it”.
“I know this will be controversial… but I feel the farm laws that were repealed should be brought back. The farmers themselves should demand it. They are a pillar of strength for the nation’s development and I want to appeal to them – demand the laws back for your own good,” Kangana Ranaut said.
As her comments stoked a controversy, BJP’s spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said, “On the social media platforms, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut’s statement on the farm bills that the central government withdrew, 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 condemn this statement.”
Kangana Ranaut then reacted to Gaurav Bhatia’s statement.
She said, “Absolutely, my views on farm laws are personal and they don’t represent the party’s stand on those Bills.”
This is the second time within a month that the BJP has distanced itself from the comments of Mandi MP.
Earlier, the actor had said that a “Bangladesh-like situation” could have erupted in India during the farmers’ protests if strong measures had not been taken by the Centre. She had also claimed that dead bodies were found hanging and rapes were taking place at the sites of agitation.
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The BJP had distanced itself from remarks made by MP Kangana Ranaut then and asked the actor-turned-politician to refrain from giving such statements in the future.
Three farm laws were rolled back by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in November 2021 after massive agitations.
(With inputs from ANI)