Gurugram: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has distanced itself in poll-bound Haryana from actor and party MP Kangana Ranaut’s remarks supporting the reinstatement of three controversial farm laws which the central government repealed in 2021 after nationwide protests.
Haryana BJP president Mohan Lal Badoli said the party had nothing to do with what Kangana Ranaut said, adding, “She keeps saying too many things. But what she says doesn’t become the BJP’s stand.”
The actor had told a new channel that farmers were a “pillar of strength” in the development of the country. “They should appeal that the three laws, which were opposed by a few states, be brought back,” she said.
Badoli said there was no doubt that the BJP government at the Centre had enforced those laws for the welfare of farmers. But once Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a call to withdraw them, there was nothing left for anyone in the party to say anything more on this issue, he added.
The Haryana Congress, however, interpreted Kangana’s statement as an attempt by the central government to bring back the repealed laws, assuring people they would not let it happen “no matter how hard Narendra Modi tried”.
The opposition party said more than 750 farmers had died before the Modi government “woke up and repealed those black laws”. “Farmers of Haryana should understand that BJP is now planning to bring back these laws again. Congress stands with the farmers. The return of these black laws will never happen,” the party posted on social media platform ‘X’ Tuesday.
Also read: In BJP manifesto, Olympic nurseries, free dialysis & development boards for Haryana’s 36 biradaris
Kangana’s frequent ‘gaffes’
Known for her outspoken nature, the Mandi MP has often been in the spotlight for making bold and often contentious remarks on a wide range of issues, from politics to social matters.
Last month, Kangana stirred trouble for the party in Haryana by claiming that “bodies were hanging and rapes taking place” during the 2020-2021 farmers’ protests. She also said there was a “conspiracy to create a Bangladesh-like situation in India” at that time.
The BJP lost no time in issuing a statement, stressing it did not agree with the MP’s claims.
Kangana made her foray into politics in 2024 when she was elected the BJP MP from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. However, her controversial statements have often put her at odds with her party leadership.
Soon after her election, Kangana was slapped by a woman constable at the Chandigarh airport, who decried her comment that protesters were getting paid Rs 100 to participate in the 2020-21 agitation. The constable had said her mother was part of the sit-in demonstration.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
