BJP Distances Itself From Kangana Ranaut’s Farm Laws Remark Yet Again

New Delhi: For the second time in two months, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has distanced itself from its MP Kangana Ranaut’s remarks. Speaking to reporters in her Lok Sabha constituency of Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, the actor-politician said the laws – rolled back by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in November 2021 after massive agitations – “should be brought back… (and) farmers themselves should demand it”.

“I know this will be controversial… but I feel the farm laws that were repealed should be brought back. The farmers themselves should demand it. They are a pillar of strength for the nation’s development and I want to appeal to them – demand the laws back for your own good,” Ranaut said.

The BJP, however, said her comments do not represent the party’s views.

Party’s spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said the remarks are Ms Ranaut’s “personal statement”.

“Kangana Ranaut is not authorised to make such a statement on behalf of the BJP and it doesn’t depict the BJP’s view on the farm bills,” Mr Bhatia said.

She then responded to Mr Bhatia’s statement and said, “My views on farm laws are personal and they don’t represent the party’s stand on those Bills.”

Ranaut was earliers reprimanded by the BJP last month over earlier remarks on the farmers; protests. The actor had said that a “Bangladesh-like situation” could have erupted in India during the farmers’ protests if strong measures had not been taken by the Centre.

Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) attacked Kangana Ranaut and vowed that “these black laws will (never be brought back now)… no matter how hard Modi and his MPs try”.

“More than 750 farmers were martyred… only then did the Modi government wafdfghjkl;’

ke up and these black laws were withdrawn. Now BJP MPs are planning to bring them back… but Congress is with the farmers,” party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said.

AAP’s Balbir Singh also took a jibe at the actor.

“Just ask her what are the three farm laws. I can guarantee you she would not be able to answer. All she is doing is comedy. Please don’t take her seriously,” Singh told reporters when asked about Ranaut’s comments.

AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang also spoke to reporters and said that discussing the reinstating of the agricultural laws “is an insult to millions of farmers and the 750 martyred farmers in the country”.

He called on PM Modi to respond and urged him to take immediate action against Ranaut if he “truly” stands with the farmers.