Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut’s remarks on India’s Independence has received flak from politicians. The allies of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the actor’s controversial statement, while the Shiv Sena on Friday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president JP Nadda must clarify the meaning of the statement and withdraw the awards given to her.
During an event, the Manikarnika actor described India’s Independence in 1947 as “bheek” or alms. Ranaut went on to say that India got real freedom in 2014 when PM Narendra Modi came to power. The 24-second video clip of her remark at an event organized by TV channel Times Now has been shared widely on social media.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that the Government of India must take back all the awards it has given to the actor. Congress, also a part of the ruling coalition in Maharashtra, called Ranaut a “puppet” of the BJP.
Senior Congress leader Tariq Anwar said that there is likely to be a conspiracy by the BJP behind the remarks by Kangana Ranaut. “She is an ardent Modi admirer and has never spoken against him. BJP’s central leadership has not uttered a word on her remarks. This raises doubts that there could be a conspiracy by the BJP to defame the freedom fighters and glorify the Modi rule. The Padmashri should immediately be taken back and a case of sedition be registered against her,” he said in Mumbai.
Mumbai Congress chief Bhai Jagtap said that they would stage protests in various parts of the city against Ranaut.
