The Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday adopted a Congress-backed resolution condemning Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut's remarks on farmers even as the Haryana unit of AAP held protests at several places in Haryana against what it called the anti-farmer mindset of BJP.
Ranaut had posted a clip of her interview in which she suggested that a "Bangladesh-like situation" could have erupted in India but for the country's strong leadership. She then alleged that bodies were hanging and rapes were taking place during the farmers' protest against the now-repealed three farm laws. She alleged the involvement of China and the US in the "conspiracy".
Kangana's remarks triggered heated exchanges in the assembly of her Congress-ruled home state with the House adopting a resolution condemning the remarks.
With Haryana going to polls on October 1, the opposition targeted the ruling BJP over the issue. The Aam Aadmi Party's Haryana unit staged protests in the state against her remarks, with a party leader saying her statement indicates the BJP's "mindset" towards farmers. The AAP leaders and workers held protests at various places including Jind, Yamunanagar, and Panchkula.
In the Himachal Assembly, as soon as the opposition BJP staged a walkout over rejection of its adjournment motion on law and order situation, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said remarks of Kangana are insulting for the entire farm community of the country. After the BJP members returned to the House, he asked them to clear their stand on the issue. Members from both sides started raising slogans as Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur said Kangana's remarks are personal and it is not the view of the party.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu supported the resolution and said the BJP should have come forward to discuss the issue. Supporting the resolution, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said the farmers are furious over the remarks of Kangana and the BJP should seriously consider its conduct. Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said an FIR should be registered against the actor as her remarks can create a law and order situation. Pacifying the agitated members, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania said a resolution condemning the remarks of Kangana has been passed by the House and there is no need for further discussions.
Himachal Pradesh PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh and her mother Pratibha Singh, who is the state Congress president, hit out at Kangana, terming her remarks on the farmers' protest as "reckless and misinformed". The Congress leaders, in two separate statements, condemned Ranaut's remarks, and said they were a grave insult to the farmers.
The Haryana unit of AAP held demonstrations at various places with state senior vice president Anurag Dhanda leading a protest in the Yamunanagar district. The protesters carrying placards raised slogans against the BJP government. Haryana AAP president Sushil Gupta dubbed Ranaut's remarks "shameful". He alleged the BJP hated farmers because they forced them to roll back the "black" farm laws.
Kangana has made such statements on farmers earlier also, Gupta said, and alleged it has been the "mentality" of the BJP that those who abuse farmers are rewarded with posts. Her remarks indicate the "mindset" of the BJP towards farmers, he further alleged.
