Himachal Pradesh assembly passes resolution condemning Kangana Ranaut amidst growing controversy

PTC News Desk: The Himachal Pradesh Assembly has passed a resolution, supported by Congress, condemning remarks made by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kangana Ranaut regarding the farmers' protests. Ranaut, who represents Mandi, had recently sparked controversy with comments she made in an interview with Hindi daily.

In the interview, Ranaut suggested that India might have faced a "Bangladesh-like situation" if not for strong leadership. She claimed that during the farmers' protests against the now-repealed farm laws, there were instances of bodies hanging and rapes. She also alleged involvement of foreign entities like China and the US in the "conspiracy."

The remarks provoked strong reactions in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, which led to the adoption of a resolution condemning her statements. The farmers' protests, which took place over several months, involved thousands from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and other regions, demanding the repeal of the controversial farm laws.

With elections approaching in Haryana on October 1, opposition leaders have criticized Ranaut's comments. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Haryana president Sushil Gupta argued that the remarks reflect the BJP's "mindset" toward farmers and noted that AAP had organized several protests in Haryana in response.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also condemned Ranaut, calling for an apology. On X, she wrote, “Kangana Ranaut has not apologised for her statement against farmers. 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.”

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In the Himachal Assembly, parliamentary affairs minister Harshwardhan Chauhan denounced Ranaut's comments as an affront to the entire farming community. Following a walkout by BJP members, Chauhan demanded clarity on their stance. The assembly session saw heated exchanges, with slogans being raised from both sides. Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur defended Ranaut, asserting that her remarks were personal and did not represent the party's views.

The BJP had distanced itself from Ranaut’s comments earlier, clarifying that she was not authorized to speak on behalf of the party regarding its policy matters. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu supported the resolution, urging the BJP to address the issue within the House. Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri emphasized the farmers' anger over Ranaut's statements and called on the BJP to reconsider its approach.

Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi even suggested that an FIR should be filed against Ranaut, citing concerns that her remarks could incite law and order issues. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav described Ranaut's comments as "deliberate" and suggested they could be used as a "shield" by the BJP to deflect blame for any potential losses in the Haryana Assembly elections.

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