Actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut has found herself in the center of yet another controversy after her recent social media post regarding Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. The BJP MP from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, made waves on Wednesday when she posted a message on Instagram that appeared to downplay Gandhi’s iconic stature as the “Father of the Nation.”
In her post on Instagram stories, shared on Shastri’s 120th birth anniversary, Ranaut wrote: “Desh ke pita nahi, desh ke to lal hote hai. Dhanye hai Bharat ma ke ye lal (‘The country does not have fathers; it has sons. Blessed are these sons of Mother India).” The message was seen as a pointed remark, questioning Gandhi’s established title.
Kangana Ranaut Criticized for Remarks
Ranaut’s comments triggered backlash, with Congress leader Supriya Shrinate openly condemning her statement. Shrinate took to social media, saying: “BJP MP Kangana made this lewd jibe on Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary. Godse worshippers draw distinctions between Bapu and Shastri ji. Will Narendra Modi wholeheartedly forgive his party’s new Godse devotee?”
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Shrinate’s reaction highlighted the growing divide over how figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri are commemorated, especially in the political arena.
Political Repercussions
Prominent voices within the BJP also expressed disapproval of Ranaut’s remarks. Manoranjan Kalia, a senior BJP leader from Punjab, released a video on social media denouncing the comments. “I condemn Kangana Ranaut’s comments made on Gandhi ji’s 155th birth anniversary. In her short political career, she has developed a habit of making controversial statements,” said Kalia.
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He added, “Politics is not her field. Politics is a serious affair. One must think before speaking… Her controversial remarks cause trouble for the party.”
The comments have put the ruling BJP in an uncomfortable position as party members distance themselves from the controversy while opponents seize the moment to question Ranaut’s political maturity.
Continued Controversies
This latest episode adds to the actor-politician’s growing list of contentious remarks. Just last month, she faced criticism for advocating the return of the three controversial farm laws, repealed in 2021, during a public event.
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At the time, Kangana Ranaut had claimed that the farmers’ protests were leading to a “Bangladesh-type situation in India,” and made unverified claims about violence and rapes at protest sites.
Following widespread criticism, she retracted her statement, acknowledging that as a BJP MP, she must exercise greater caution in her public statements.
