New Delhi: Bollywood actress and BJP MP from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, Kangana Ranaut has stirred controversy once again with her recent remarks about the farmers movement. In an interview with a newspaper, Ranaut claimed that if the government had been weak, Punjab could have become a new Bangladesh during the farmers protests. She alleged that the movement involved widespread violence, including rapes and murders, orchestrated by miscreants with a long-term agenda.Reactions to Kanganas commentsRanauts comments have intensified the ongoing protests against her upcoming film, Emergency. The film, which is facing backlash in Punjab, has been criticized for its portrayal of Sikhs. Punjabs independent MP, Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, has objected to the scenes shown in the films trailer, alleging misrepresentation of Sikhs. He has called for a ban on the films release. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has also demanded a ban, accusing Kangana of deliberately defaming the Sikh community.Political repercussions and demandsThe SGPC President, Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, has condemned the film and demanded its immediate ban, citing it as an intentional defamation of Sikhs by Kangana Ranaut. The controversy has been exacerbated by Ranauts recent comments about the farmers movement, which have reignited protests in Punjab.In response to Ranauts statement, Congress leader Rajkumar Verka has called for her to be booked under the National Security Act (NSA) and imprisoned in Dibrugarh, Assam. Verka has criticized the BJP for not distancing itself from Kangana, demanding that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann take action against her.Kanganas history of controversyKangana Ranaut has previously made controversial statements regarding the farmers movement. In November 2020, she disparaged female protesters, which led to widespread outrage among farmers. More recently, a CISF constable at Chandigarh airport slapped Ranaut after her derogatory remarks about the protestors.
