Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut continues to be slammed by her party’s leaders over her remarks on the three farm laws, which were withdrawn by the Modi government after it sparked massive farmers’ protests. The Mandi MP had suggested that the three laws should be brought back but apologised after the BJP distanced itself from her remarks. She later said those were her personal views, not that of the party, and that her opinions should reflect the party’s stand.

The apology, however, did little to allay the damage her words may have caused to the BJP’s image in Punjab. BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said one should not judge Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bond with Punjab through such “baseless and illogical” remarks.

“I am grateful to the BJP for distancing themselves from the comments of Kangana Ranaut. But as a Punjabi, I must say that Kangana Ranaut’s consistent rant, useless, baseless and illogical statements against the Sikh community, the farmers of Punjab are damaging all the good work, the welfare-oriented, the Vikas-oriented work being done, that has been done by PM Modi for the welfare of Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat,” he told ANI.

“Having said that there should not be any doubt that PM Modi’s bond with Punjab, the farmer of Punjab and Punjabiyat is an unbreakable, unshakable bond and that bond should not be judged or seen through the lens of irresponsible comments being made by one MP Kangana Ranaut,” Mr Shergill added.

Read | “I Must Remember…”: Kangana Ranaut Apologises For Remarks On Farm Laws

Another BJP spokesperson, Gaurav Bhatia, said yesterday that Ms Ranaut’s remarks were her “personal statements” that don’t depict the BJP’s stand view on the farm bills.

“On the social media platforms, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut’s statement on the farm bills that were withdrawn by centre is going viral. I want to make it clear that this statement is a personal statement of her,” Mr Bhatia said.

Ms Ranaut, who was elected to the parliament from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi constituency earlier this year, had said “farmers themselves should demand” the three farm laws that were scrapped by the government. “I know this statement could be controversial, but the three farm laws should be brought back. Farmers themselves should demand it,” she had said.

Read | “Farmers Should Demand…”: Kangana Ranaut’s Latest Draws Congress Fury

On being pointed out by the party that she was “not authorized” to make such comments, Ms Ranaut took back her remarks and said in a video statement she will ensure her views are aligned with that of the party. “I have to keep in mind that I am not just an artist but also a BJP worker. My opinions should not be personal and should be the party’s stand. I regret and take my words back if my comments have disappointed anyone,” she said.

The BJP had reprimanded Ms Ranaut once last month as well – over her remarks that a “Bangladesh-like situation” could have erupted in India during the farmers’ protest if the centre had not taken strong measures.

Ms Ranaut is also embroiled in a controversy over her latest film, Emergency, which is fighting for a censor certificate after several allegations that she has tried to tarnish the images of Sikhs in the film and levelled false charges against the community.

New Delhi:

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday distanced itself from its MP Kangana Ranaut’s fresh comment on the three farm laws that were at the core of the farmers’ protest in 2020. Speaking to reporters in her Lok Sabha constituency of Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, the actor-politician 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.

The BJP, however, said her comments do not represent the party’s views.

Party’s spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said the remarks are Ms Ranaut’s “personal statement”.

“Kangana Ranaut is not authorised to make such a statement on behalf of the BJP and it doesn’t depict the BJP’s view on the farm bills,” Mr Bhatia said.

She then responded to Mr Bhatia’s statement and said, “My views on farm laws are personal and they don’t represent the party’s stand on those Bills.”

Absolutely, my views on Farmers Laws are personal and they don’t represent party’s stand on those Bills. Thanks. https://t.co/U4byptLYuc

— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) September 24, 2024

Ms Ranaut, whose latest film, ‘Emergency’, is fighting for a censor certificate, has already been reprimanded once by the BJP – last month – over earlier remarks on the farmers’ protests. 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.

In 2020, as the farmers’ protests were gathering steam, she allegedly misidentified a woman farmer from Punjab and called her Bilkis Bano.

That swipe resurfaced in June this year after Kangana Ranaut was slapped by a woman CISF officer.

Kangana Ranaut’s Farm Laws Remark Draws Congress, AAP’s Ire

Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) attacked Kangana Ranaut and vowed that “these black laws will (never be brought back now)… no matter how hard Modi and his MPs try”.

“More than 750 farmers were martyred… only then did the Modi government wake up and these black laws were withdrawn. Now BJP MPs are planning to bring them back… but Congress is with the farmers,” party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said.

AAP’s Balbir Singh also took a jibe at the actor.

“Just ask her what are the three farm laws. I can guarantee you she would not be able to answer. All she is doing is comedy. Please don’t take her seriously,” Mr Singh told reporters when asked about Ms Ranaut’s comments.

AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang also spoke to reporters and said that discussing the reinstating of the agricultural laws “is an insult to millions of farmers and the 750 martyred farmers in the country”.

He called on PM Modi to respond and urged him to take immediate action against Ms Ranaut if he “truly” stands with the farmers.

Ms Ranaut’s latest jab comes days before the Assembly election in Haryana, from where lakhs of farmers marched on Delhi and participated in multiple blockades against the city.

BJP MP Kangana Ranaut.
| Photo Credit: PTI

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has distanced itself from the remarks of party leader Kangana Ranaut on farm laws while stating that the actor is “not authorised” to make such statements on the party’s behalf.

This comes after Ms. Ranaut suggested that the three farm laws that were repealed following prolonged farmer protests should be brought back.

The actor-turned-politician had told the media, “I know this statement could be controversial, but the three farm laws should be brought back. Farmers themselves should demand it.”

BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said the remarks are a “personal statement” of Ms. Ranaut and don’t depict BJP’s view on farm bills.

“Kangana Ranaut is not authorised to make such a statement on behalf of the BJP, and it doesn’t depict the BJP’s view on the farm bills. We disapprove of this statement,” he added.

The Mandi MP has drawn ire over her remarks on farm laws.

Earlier, 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. Other MPs never make such remarks,” the Congress leader said.

The Congress on Tuesday (September 24, 2024) cited Ms. Ranaut’s purported remarks on farm laws to allege that the ruling party was making efforts to bring back the three laws that were repealed in 2021, and asserted that Haryana will give a befitting reply to it.

“Farmers are a pillar of strength in India’s progress. Only in some States, do they object to farm laws. I appeal with folded hands that farm laws should be brought back in the interest of farmers.” In a post in Hindi along with the video, the Congress said, “The three black laws imposed on farmers should be brought back: BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has said this. More than 750 farmers of the country were martyred, only then did the Modi government wake up and these black laws were withdrawn.” Now BJP MPs are planning to bring back these laws, the Congress alleged.

“The Congress is with the farmers. These black laws will never return, no matter how hard Narendra Modi and his MPs try,” the opposition party said on X.

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also shared the video of Ms. 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?” Mr. Khera said in a post in Hindi.

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.