New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)BJP) distanced himself from the Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut on his statement upon cancellation Agricultural LawMeanwhile, ally Chirag Paswan came to his defence and said “he will understand these things soon”.
Speaking to reporters, Paswan also said, “I am not angry with Kangana, but she is no longer just an artiste but also a member of a political party. I accept the fact that you can have your own personal opinion, but when you are a part of a political party, it becomes your responsibility to put forward the issues of that party.”
Paswan said, “She is new to politics, it is taking her time to understand things but she is intelligent and she will understand these things soon.”
His remarks came a day after Ranaut released a video in which she backtracked from her earlier demand to repeal the three farm laws that were repealed in 2021.
Ranaut said her “personal” views do not represent the BJP’s stand on the matter, while the Congress has demanded her expulsion from the saffron party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarification on this issue.
“In the last few days, the media asked me questions on farm laws and I suggested that farmers should appeal to the PM to repeal the farm laws. A lot of people got upset because of my statement. When the farm laws were proposed… many people supported it. But with utmost sensitivity and empathy… our PM repealed the laws,” Kangana said in a video posted on Instagram.
Kangana said that it is the duty of every member (of BJP) to maintain the dignity of his (PM Modi’s) words.
Kangana further said, “I also have to keep in mind that I am not an actress but a BJP member and my opinion should not be mine but the party’s stand. If I have disappointed anyone with my words or opinion, I apologize. I take back my words.”
An apology came on his behalf after BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia distanced the party from his comments.
Bhatia said the BJP had not authorised Ranaut to make any such statement nor did her stance reflect the party’s views.
BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said Ranaut’s “persistent, baseless and illogical statements” against farmers and the Sikh community would have a “detrimental impact” on all the good work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the welfare of “Punjab, Punjabis and Punjabiat”.
Shergill said on Twitter that the Prime Minister’s relationship with farmers and Punjab should not be judged from the perspective of the “irresponsible comments” of an MP.
Himachal Pradesh BJP has also distanced itself from Ranaut’s statement.
The Congress also targeted the BJP over the issue and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said that Prime Minister Modi should clarify whether he is against Ranaut’s comments or is doing some mischief.
The opposition party said that if the BJP does not agree with Ranaut’s statements then it should expel her.
In a video statement, Gandhi said, “People associated with the BJP keep testing ideas. They ask someone to convey an idea among the people and then they see the reaction. That is what has happened. One of their MPs has talked about reviving the three black farm laws. Modiji, you should clarify whether you are against it or you are doing some mischief again.”
Rahul said, “Will the three agricultural laws be revived or not? If you do so, I guarantee you that the India block will stand together against it. Seven hundred people were martyred, they should be remembered and respected.”
“Modiji did not even allow two minutes of silence for them (those who died during the year-long protest against the anti-farm laws). We will never forget this,” he said.
In a post in Hindi along with his video on X, he asked, “Who is deciding the government’s policy? BJP MPs or Prime Minister Modi?”
He said, “Even after the martyrdom of more than 700 farmers, especially those from Haryana and Punjab, the BJP people are not satisfied. India will not allow any conspiracy of the BJP against our farmers to succeed – if any step is taken to harm the farmers, Modiji will have to apologise again.”
In a post on Twitter, Mallikarjun Kharge said: “Even after the martyrdom of 750 farmers, the anti-farmer BJP and Modi government have not realised their grave crime! There is talk of re-implementing the three black anti-farmer laws. The Congress party strongly opposes this.”
The Congress president said the farmers will not forget that their comrades were crushed under vehicles and the government used barbed wire fencing, tear gas shells from drones, nails and guns to suppress their protest against the three controversial laws.
In his post written in Hindi, Kharge said, “This time, the electoral states including Haryana will give a befitting reply to the insulting statements made by the Prime Minister in Parliament calling the farmers ‘agitators’ and ‘parasites’.”
He alleged, “Due to Modiji’s statements, his ministers, MPs and propaganda machinery have become accustomed to insulting farmers.”
