Kangana Ranaut is once again in the centre of a controversy — this time, for her comments on India’s Freedom Movement.
The actress, who has repeatedly raised hackles and also invited retribution in various forms from the powers that be in Maharashtra, ignited yet another fire on November 11 when she said that India had got freedom only in 2014 when the Narendra Modi government came to power, and relegated the Independence won in 1947 to the status of mere ‘bheek’ or alms.
Soon after Kangana made her remark at a television summit, netizens lashed out against her.
Several politicians have joined issue with the four-time National Award-winning actress and demanded that she be charged with sedition.
There were also demands that the Padma Shri recently awarded to her be withdrawn.
“Before giving such awards, mental psychological evaluation should be done so that in future, such persons do not disrespect the nation and its heroes,” tweeted senior Congress leader Anand Sharma, tagging President Ram Nath Kovind. Other members of the Congress termed her comment ‘Treason’.
Most politicians severely criticised Kangana for negating the sacrifices of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and other freedom fighters.
NCP leader and Maharashtra politician Nawab Malik who has been speaking for Aryan Khan in the drugs case, even suggested that the actress had been under the influence of drugs while making the comment. “It seems that Kangana Ranaut took a heavy dose of Malana Cream (a form of hashish and a banned substance) before speaking such words,” he said and demanded her arrest and the withdrawal of her Padma Shri award.
BJP MP Varun Gandhi was among those who lashed out at Kangana. “Insulting the sacrifice of Mahatma Gandhi sometimes, praising his killer (Nathuram Godse), and now the disdain for the sacrifices of Mangal Pandey, Rani Laxmibai, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and lakhs of freedom fighters. Should I call this thinking madness or treason?” he tweeted.
An unfazed Kangana, continuing her tirade against the Gandhi/Nehru family, retorted, “Even though I clearly mentioned that the 1857 freedom fight was the first revolution that was curbed… which led to more atrocities and cruelties from the British and almost a century was given to us in Gandhi’s begging bowl… Jaa aur ro ab (Go cry some more).”
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) asked the Mumbai police to register a case against Kangana. And Kangana’s arch enemy the Shiv Sena also joined the fray. Party leader Neelam Gorhe said the actor must be charged with sedition.
"Our freedom fighters fought hard and gave their lives so we could live in a nation where Kangana could insult them without consequence. The fact that she’s able to say wild s**t about them is a testament to their success"
— Vir Das, Actor and anchor
"It is insulting to what we achieved from 1947 onwards. We developed medical institutes, IITs and we have several biggest companies in the world. I am an army officer’s son and I know that we have the best defence forces as well. One cannot trivialise the sacrifices done earlier and the efforts taken later."
— Rajeev Paul, actor
— Sanskriti Media
