New Delhi: Bollywood actress and BJP MP from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, Kangana Ranaut, has once again found herself at the centre of a political storm following her recent social media posts. On the occasion of the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri, Ranaut made a remark on Instagram that has drawn sharp criticism from Congress leaders.
In her post, shared on the 155th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the 120th birth anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri, Kangana questioned Gandhi’s revered title as the “Father of the Nation” and referred to him in a way that has been perceived as dismissive. She wrote, “Not the father of the country, the country is red. Blessed are these red of India.” In a separate post, she credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for continuing Gandhi’s legacy of promoting cleanliness in the country.
Congress leaders have reacted strongly to Kangana’s comments, with party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate launching a direct attack. “BJP MP Kangana made lewd remarks on Gandhi’s birth anniversary. Godse worshippers are now discriminating between Bapu and Shastri. Will Narendra Modi forgive his party’s new Godse devotee?” Shrinate asked, adding, “The Father of the Nation is a respected figure, just as much as Lal Bahadur Shastri and other martyrs of India.”
Senior BJP leader from Punjab, Manoranjan Kalia, also voiced his disapproval of Kangana’s post. He remarked that despite her short political career, she has become known for making controversial statements. Kalia further stated, “Politics is not her field. Politics is a serious matter, and her remarks can only spell trouble for the party.”
This is not the first time that Kangana’s comments have sparked a political uproar. Known for her outspoken views, the actress-turned-politician has often made headlines for her controversial statements, but this time, her comments have caused a major rift between the BJP and Congress.