Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Sept 25: Even as the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded an explanation from the Prime Minster Narendra Modi on the government’s stand on the now-repealed three farm laws, the BJP Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut, who had sparked off the controversy demanding reinstatement of the laws, on Wednesday withdrew her statement apologised to all who might had been hurt by her suggestion.
The actor-politician said her call to farmers to demand bringing back the three farm laws, which were repealed by Mr Modi in 2021 following a year-long agitation by the farmers, were her personal opinions and did not represent the party’s stand. She said she must remember that she is not only an artiste but also a BJP member now and her statements should be in line with her party’s policies.
Her statement withdrawing her previous demand came within hours of Mr Gandhi posted on X demanding Mr Modi to clarify if his government was against the legislation or not. Gandhi questioned the stand of the Prime Minister and the Central government on the repealed farm laws, while also seeking to know if it would be revived. He further stated that in the case of a revival of the laws, the INDIA bloc would unitedly fight against it.
The Congress alleged that the remarks are an indication that the ruling party was making efforts to bring back the three laws and asserted that Haryana would give a befitting reply to it. Ms Ranaut’s remark came at a time when political parties are preparing for the assembly polls in Haryana slated on October 5. Haryana had witnessed major protests by farmers, especially at Delhi borders, demanding that the three laws be repealed.
A post by Rahul Gandhi on X read: “Who is deciding the government’s policy? A BJP MP or Prime Minister Modi?” “Even after the martyrdom of more than 700 farmers, especially the farmers of Haryana and Punjab, the BJP people are not satisfied. 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 apologize again,” Gandhi added.
Ms Ranaut, who was earlier reprimanded by the BJP high command for making abusive remarks against the farmers’ agitation against the three farm laws, stirred yet another row with her remarks urging farmers to ask the Prime Minister to reinstate those laws. Stating that the laws were designed for the betterment of the farmers, the actor-turned-MP, while speaking at a religious fair in Nachan Assembly on Monday, had said, “I believe the repealed farm laws should be brought back. I understand it may become controversial, but I think these farmer-welfare-oriented laws should return. Farmers should demand these laws themselves. Just as farmers in other regions are benefiting, there should be no obstacles to their development.”
Ranaut also compared the three farm laws to the proposed simultaneous polls. “Farmers are an important pillar of our country. Just as the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative would benefit bureaucrats and government employees, who often have to go on election duties, farmers too should demand the return of the three farm laws, which were opposed only by a few states. I urge them with folded hands to ask for the reinstatement of these laws,” she said.
Following backlash from farmer unions and political parties, including her own, Ranaut on Wednesday retracted her statement, saying her views should not contradict the party’s stand on an issue.”
“I need to keep in mind that I am no longer just a film star but also a BJP worker. My party’s views should be my views and my opinions should not contradict the party’s stance. I regret if my opinion hurts anyone, and I take back my words,” Ranaut said.
The BJP, however, quickly distanced itself from her comments, saying they do not represent the party’s views. “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,” party’s spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said.
She 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.” She also released a video statement and said many people are “disappointed” with her comments.
Ms Ranaut, whose latest film “Emergency” is fighting with the Central government-controlled Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) for release of the film, was earlier reprimanded by the party for drawing a parallel between the farmers’ agitation and the recent uprising in Bangladesh. A “Bangladesh-like situation” could have erupted in India during the farmers’ protests if strong measures had not been taken by the Centre, she had said.
In 2020, as the farmers’ protests were gathering steam, she allegedly misidentified a woman farmer from Punjab and called her Bilkis Bano and she was slapped by a woman CISF officer at the Chandigarh airport earlier this year for her comment.
The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) attacked Ms Ranaut and vowed that “these black laws will never be brought back now.”
“More than 750 farmers were martyred… only then did the Modi government wake 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,” Mr Singh told reporters when asked about Ms 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 Ms Ranaut if he “truly” stands with the farmers.