Kangana Ranaut apologises, but Congress smells a rat in her remarks on farm laws

Actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut stirred up a political storm on Wednesday after she demanded that the three controversial farm laws be brought back. The Mandi MP later expressed regret over her remarks, and the ruling BJP distanced itself from her statements, but the opposition seems not impressed.

The Congress party feels that the MP’s remarks hint at the government’s plan to re-implement the laws. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi clarify his stand on the issue. Gandhi even asked whether the prime minister is “upto some mischief”.

"The BJP people keep testing ideas. They ask someone to voice an idea among the people, and then they see the reaction. This is what has happened, one of their MPs has talked about reviving the three black farm laws. Modi ji you must clarify, whether you are against this or you are again up to some mischief,” Gandhi said in a video statement.

The Congress leader further warned that the opposition INDIA bloc will stand united against any move to revive the farm laws. He added that the over 700 people who died during the agitations against the controversial laws must be remembered and respected.

“INDIA will not allow any conspiracy of BJP against our farmers to succeed. If any step is taken to harm the farmers, Modi ji will have to apologise again," he said in another post.

The BJP government had to withdraw the three farm laws—Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act—in 2021 following massive agitation by the farmers in several states, especially in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Kangana, who has a penchant for courting controversy, said in an interview that the three laws should be brought back. “The farm laws that have been repealed should be brought back. I think this may get controversial. The laws in farmers' interest be brought back. Farmers should themselves demand this (to bring farm laws back) so that there is no hindrance to their prosperity,” she said.

"Farmers are a pillar of strength in India's progress. Only in some states, they objected to farm laws. I appeal with folded hands that farm laws should be brought back in the interest of farmers," said the actor-politician.

Videos of her statements went viral on social platforms, eliciting widespread backlash.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that there has been talk of re-implementation of the three “black anti-farmer” laws. "Even after the martyrdom of 750 farmers, the anti-farmer BJP and Modi government did not realise their grave crime!,” he said.

Kharge hopes that the poll-bound states, including Haryana, will give a befitting reply to the BJP for using insulting remarks against the farmers.

"This time, poll-bound states, including Haryana, will give a befitting reply to insulting remarks, calling farmers 'andolanjeevi' and 'parasites', hurled by the prime minister himself in Parliament," Kharge said.

Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil demanded that the BJP expel Kangana from the party. “If I make a serious statement that is not in line with my party, the party would expel me, has the BJP expelled her? If you do not agree with her remarks, why are you not expelling her?,” he asked.

The BJP, meanwhile, distanced itself from Kangana’s remarks, saying she was not authorised for making any such statement.

Following this, the MP expressed regret over her remarks, saying, “My opinions will not just be mine but will represent the party's stand. So if I have hurt anyone's sentiments with my thoughts, I regret it and take my words back," she said.