Kangana says farm laws views personal, faces backlash from critics.
During an interview on Tuesday, actress Kangana Ranaut made a bold statement regarding the previously repealed farm laws, sparking controversy. The farmers should themselves demand it,” she remarked. Her comments have reignited debates over the controversial agricultural reforms, which were repealed following widespread protests by farmers. Kangana has been known for her strong opinions on political matters, and this latest statement has drawn both support and criticism, with many questioning the timing and nature of her remarks.
Kangana Ranaut Faces Backlash for Supporting Repealed Farm Laws, Clarifies Views as Personal
Shimla: Bollywood actress turned politician, Kangana Ranaut, has found herself in the midst of controversy once again, this time for her comments supporting the reintroduction of the three repealed farm laws. The actress, who also serves as a BJP Member of Parliament from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi constituency, has faced severe backlash, including from her own party, for suggesting that the farm laws were beneficial to farmers and should be brought back.
In an interview with the media on Tuesday, Kangana made the bold statement, “I know this statement could be controversial, but the three farm laws should be brought back. The farmers should themselves demand it.” Her remarks immediately sparked outrage, particularly as the farm laws had been a point of major contention and led to widespread protests by farmers, primarily from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. These protests eventually forced the government to repeal the laws in 2021.
Kangana’s comments were met with sharp criticism not only from opposition parties but also from within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In response to the backlash, Kangana took to the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) to clarify that her views were personal and did not represent the official stance of the BJP. “Absolutely, my views on farmers’ laws are personal and they do not represent the party’s stand on those Bills. Thanks,” she wrote, tagging a statement made by BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia, who had strongly condemned her remarks.
BJP Distances Itself from Kangana’s Comments
Gaurav Bhatia, a prominent BJP spokesperson, quickly distanced the party from Kangana’s controversial comments. Kangana Ranaut is not authorized 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,” Bhatia said in response to the growing criticism.
Kangana’s assertion that the farm laws were “farmer welfare-oriented” was not in line with the party’s current stance, particularly after the central government decided to withdraw the controversial laws following year-long protests that culminated in their repeal in November 2021. While the BJP initially defended the laws as necessary reforms for modernizing agriculture and improving farmers’ livelihoods, the protests, which saw farmers camping at Delhi’s borders for months, forced the government to retreat.
Kangana’s Appeal to Farmers
In her interview, Kangana had doubled down on her belief that the farm laws were beneficial for the farming community, despite the massive protests against them. She described farmers as a “pillar of strength in the nation’s development” and urged them to reconsider their stance on the laws. “I want to appeal to them to demand the laws back for their good,” she stated, further fueling the controversy.
However, the opposition parties, especially Congress, seized on her comments to argue that the ruling BJP was quietly planning to bring back the farm laws that were repealed under public pressure. Congress shared an undated video of Kangana on social media, in which she purportedly calls for the reintroduction of the farm laws. The Congress party alleged that Kangana’s comments were a reflection of the BJP’s hidden agenda, particularly in states like Haryana, where the farm laws had sparked significant opposition.
Congress, in a statement on X, said, “The BJP’s attempt to reintroduce the three farm laws through Kangana’s statement has not gone unnoticed. The people of Haryana will give a befitting reply to this in the elections.”
Previous Controversies
This is not the first time Kangana’s remarks about the farm laws have drawn criticism. Just last month, she was warned by her party over another controversial statement in which she suggested that the farmer protests could have led to a “Bangladesh-like situation in India.” Her comments came in the wake of Bangladesh’s political turmoil, where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was reportedly forced to resign and flee to India amid student-led protests against her government. Many within the BJP saw this as an inflammatory and unhelpful comparison, further straining relations between the actress-politician and her party.
Kangana has long been known for her outspoken views on political matters, often courting controversy with statements that diverge from mainstream narratives. While her popularity as an actress has given her a significant platform, her frequent forays into political commentary have drawn criticism from various quarters, including members of her own party.
The Repealed Farm Laws
The three farm laws that Kangana supported were originally passed in September 2020 as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader agricultural reforms. These laws were aimed at deregulating the sale of agricultural produce, allowing farmers to sell their crops directly to buyers without going through traditional market systems known as “mandis.” Proponents of the laws argued that they would increase farmers’ income by opening up new markets and reducing middlemen’s involvement. However, critics and farmer groups argued that the laws would dismantle the regulated mandi system and leave small farmers vulnerable to exploitation by large corporations.
The resulting protests became one of the largest mass movements in recent Indian history, with farmers camping at the borders of Delhi for months. The demonstrations garnered international attention and support from various quarters. Ultimately, the central government decided to withdraw the farm laws in November 2021, marking a significant victory for the protesting farmers.
Conclusion
Kangana Ranaut’s comments in favor of reinstating the farm laws have reignited a highly charged issue that many believed had been settled with the repeal of the laws in 2021. Her personal views, which she clarified do not represent the BJP’s position, have drawn criticism not only from the opposition but also from within her own party. As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how this will impact her standing in the BJP and whether her remarks will have any lasting political consequences. For now, the farm law debate remains a sensitive issue, and Kangana’s statements have ensured it stays in the public eye.