Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kangana Ranaut has expressed “regret” over her recent comment suggesting the return of the three controversial farm laws, which the Centre withdrew after a year-long protest by farmers.
While speaking to reporters in her Lok Sabha constituency of Mandi in Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday, the actor-politician said that the laws — rolled back by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in November 2021 — “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“I know this will be controversial… but I feel the farm laws that were repealed should be brought back.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.
However, the BJP quickly distanced itself from her remarks, stressing that they do not reflect the party’s perspective. “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 spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia stated.
In her response to Bhatia’s remarks, Ranaut clarified, “My views on farm laws are personal and they don’t represent the party’s stand on those Bills.”
She also issued a video statement acknowledging that many individuals are “disappointed” with her comments. “I have to keep in mind that I am not just an artist but also a BJP worker. My opinions should not be personal and should be the party’s stand. I regret and take my words back if my comments have disappointed anyone,” she said.
Ranaut’s recent comments have emerged just days ahead of the Assembly election in Haryana, where thousands of farmers marched to Delhi to oppose the farm laws. Her remarks could further inflame farmers’ anger towards the BJP, potentially affecting the party’s electoral prospects in agriculturally significant regions.
The election for the 90-member Haryana Assembly will take place on October 5, and votes will be counted on October 8.
The actor was recently censured by the BJP for her remarks about the farmers’ protests. She had suggested that a “Bangladesh-like situation” could have arisen in India had the Centre not intervened firmly during the protests.
In 2020, as the farmers’ protests intensified, she mistakenly referred to a woman farmer from Punjab as Bilkis Bano, a comment that resurfaced in June this year after she was allegedly slapped by a woman CISF officer.
Both the Congress party and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have condemned Ranaut’s remarks, assuring that “these black laws will never be brought back.”
“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 criticised the actor, saying, “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.”
AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang remarked that discussing the reinstatement 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 immediate action against Ranaut if he “truly” stands with the farmers.
