After the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called her statement on the need to roll back the repealed farm laws as contrary to the party line, Mandi MLA Kangana Ranaut expressed “regret” over her statement and said, “I take back my words.”
This is the second time in two months that the BJP has had to distance itself from Ranaut’s statement related to the farmers’ issue. In August, the party was quick to point out that the MP’s statement on the farmers’ agitation to repeal the laws was not the party’s position and that she is not authorised to speak on policy issues. Referring to the year-long agitation, she had said that a “Bangladesh-like situation” could have arisen in India during the protests if strict measures were not taken by the central government.
Despite party directives to speak without being informed, the actress-turned-politician, who represents Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi Lok Sabha constituency, stirred a fresh controversy by telling mediapersons in the state that the three laws that were repealed in 2021 after prolonged protests by farmers should be rolled back.
Following an uproar within the BJP and its allies and criticism by the Opposition over the statement, which could hurt the BJP’s prospects in poll-bound Haryana, the MLA issued a statement expressing regret. A section of farmers from Punjab and Haryana were at the forefront of the agitation against the laws and had demanded their withdrawal.
“The media asked me questions about the farm laws and I suggested that we should request the PM to roll them back. When the laws were proposed, many of us had supported them…but the PM repealed them, showing empathy and sensitivity…As party workers, it is our duty to respect his decision,” she said. Several leaders, including BJP ally JDU’s KC Tyagi, have demanded action against her for the statement, but Ranaut said she should keep in mind that her opinion should be in line with the party line.
“I should keep in mind that I am not an artist but a BJP worker and my opinion should not be mine but the party’s stand… I take back my words… If I have disappointed people, I express regret.”
However, the opposition did not react to it and Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Who is deciding the government’s policy? BJP MPs or Prime Minister Modi? Even after the martyrdom of more than 700 farmers, especially farmers from Haryana and Punjab, the people of the BJP 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, Modi ji will have to apologize again,” she said in a statement.
Late on Tuesday night, party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said, Ranaut is not authorised to make such a statement on behalf of the BJP and it does not reflect the BJP’s view on the farm bills. “On social media platforms, the statement of BJP MP Kangana Ranaut on the farm bills withdrawn by the Central government is going viral. I want to make it clear that this statement is her personal statement. Kangana Ranaut is not authorised to make such a statement on behalf of the BJP and it does not reflect the BJP’s view on the farm bills. We reject this statement,” he said in a statement.
BJP allies JDU and LJP also termed her statement as a “personal opinion”.
JDU national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said, “Following the party’s decision to distance itself from the statement, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut had no option but to apologise.”
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior party leader said the BJP leadership has sent a strong message to the MP to refrain from speaking on issues that could create trouble for the party. “As an MP she cannot express personal opinion on policy issues… She has been told this earlier as well. The party line should be followed and statements should be made with sensitivity,” the senior leader said. Referring to the impact of her statement on the October 5 elections in Haryana, the leader said, “Such statements are likely to harm the party’s prospects… There is an election narrative set by the leadership and taking a contrary stand means giving the opposition an opportunity to harm the party and the government…” This is not the first time that Ranaut has come under fire for her statements on farmers and the agitation that led to the withdrawal of the three farm laws. In June, she was slapped by a CISF jawan at the airport who was upset with the actress for casting aspersions on those participating in the agitation.
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