BJP distances itself from Kangana’s remarks on bringing back three farm laws
The BJP has distanced itself from Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut’s statement about bringing back the three farm laws.
The party’s national spokesperson, Gaurav Bhatia, said, “On several social media platforms, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut’s statement regarding the three repealed farm laws has been circulating. I want to make it clear that this statement is her personal view. Kangana Ranaut is not authorised to make such a statement on behalf of the BJP and it does not represent the party’s stance on the farm bills. We rebut her statement.”
Quoting Bhatia’s statement, Ranaut posted on X, “Absolutely, my views on farm laws are personal and they don’t represent the party’s stand on those Bills. Thanks.”
During a visit to her constituency in Mandi, Ranaut said, “The three repealed farm laws should be brought back. This could be controversial but I think the pro-farmer laws should be reinstated. In fact, the farmers themselves should demand it so that, like in other places, farmers are prospering; there shouldn’t be any brake on our farmers’ prosperity.”
She added that “farmers are our main pillar of strength” and urged them to advocate for the return of those laws. “A few states had opposed them. I request them with folded hands to bring those laws back in the interest of farmers,” she said.
The Congress commented on her video on X: “More than 750 farmers in the country were martyred; only then did the Modi government wake up and these black laws were withdrawn. The farmers of Haryana should understand carefully that now the BJP is planning to bring these laws back again. The Congress stands with the farmers. These black laws will never be reinstated, no matter how much effort Narendra Modi and his MPs put in.”
Quoting Ranaut’s statement, Pawan Khera, chairman, Congress Media and Publicity Department, posted on X, “This is the real thinking of the BJP. How many times will you cheat the farmers, you hypocrites?”
Connecting her statement to the Haryana poll, Supriya Shrinate, chairperson, Congress Social Media and Digital Platforms Department, commented on Ranaut’s video on X: “More than 750 farmers have been martyred while opposing the three black anti-farmer laws. Efforts are being made to bring them back again. We will never let this happen. Haryana will give the first answer.”
A senior BJP leader from Haryana stated, “Senior leaders from the Centre and Himachal Pradesh should refrain Ranaut from issuing such statements, as these are detrimental to our prospects in Haryana.”
Issuing a video statement on X today, Ranaut said, “I should keep in mind that I am not an artist now but a BJP worker.I should not express my personal opinion which goes against the party’s stand. If I have disappointed anyone with my remarks, I regret it. Take my words back.”
Thousands of farmers from Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh held protests against the three farm laws at the Delhi borders for several months before they were repealed. Haryana, which is going to the polls on October 5, was one of the epicenters of these protests.
Earlier, Ranaut stirred controversy while commenting on the farmers’ movement. Last month, she posted on X that the farmers’ stir could have led to a Bangladesh-like crisis in India had the Modi government not taken action. She even alleged that during the farmers’ protest, “bodies were seen hanging, and rapes were taking place.” The BJP had then too expressed disagreement with Ranaut's remarks. On August 27, the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed a Congress-backed resolution condemning her comments.
Amid the farmers’ protests in 2020, Ranaut misidentified a woman farmer from Punjab and made derogatory remarks. After being elected to the Lok Sabha, she was involved in an altercation with a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) woman constable at Chandigarh airport on June 6. The constable allegedly slapped her for her anti-farmer remarks.
