Himachal Pradesh Assembly Passes Resolution Condemning Kangana Ranaut's Controversial Remarks On Farmers' Protests; Sparks Widespread Political Backlash
The Himachal Pradesh Assembly has passed a resolution condemning recent remarks made by BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, which have sparked widespread controversy. The resolution, backed by the Congress, was adopted following heated exchanges in the assembly of Kangana's home state.
Kangana Ranaut, the MP from Mandi, had shared a clip from her interview with Dainik Bhaskar, in which she suggested that India could have faced a "Bangladesh-like situation" if not for the country's strong leadership. She went on to claim that during the farmers' protests against the now-repealed farm laws, there were incidents of bodies hanging and rapes taking place, and alleged that China and the US were involved in a "conspiracy."
Her remarks triggered strong reactions in the assembly. Himachal Pradesh's parliamentary affairs minister, Harshwardhan Chauhan, described Kangana's comments as an insult to the entire farming community. He challenged the BJP members to clarify their position on the matter after they returned from a walkout they had staged earlier.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu supported the resolution, stating that the BJP should address the issue within the House. Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri echoed this sentiment, pointing out that Kangana's remarks had enraged farmers, and urged the BJP to seriously consider its stance.
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Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi went a step further, suggesting that an FIR should be lodged against Kangana Ranaut, warning that her statements could lead to a law and order situation.
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur attempted to defuse the situation by stating that Kangana's remarks were personal and did not reflect the views of the BJP. The party had distanced itself from her comments earlier, expressing disagreement with her views and clarifying that she was neither permitted nor authorized to speak on party policy.
Outside Himachal Pradesh, the backlash continued. AAP's Haryana president Sushil Gupta criticized the BJP MP, arguing that her remarks exposed the party's "mindset" towards farmers. He noted that the issue had sparked protests in Haryana, where elections are scheduled for October 1. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also demanded an apology from Kangana, posting on X (formerly Twitter) that "BJP's statement expresses no regret about the charges made by her against farmers. She is a BJP member & MP, if no action is taken against her, it's fair to say that BJP is only paying lip service to the farmers."
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also weighed in, claiming that Kangana's remarks were "deliberate" and suggesting they were meant to provide the BJP with a scapegoat for any potential electoral defeat in the upcoming Haryana polls.
The controversy has put the BJP on the defensive as it tries to distance itself from the remarks of one of its most prominent MPs while also addressing the concerns of the farming community ahead of crucial elections.
