New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kangana Ranaut on Wednesday sparked a fresh row on Tuesday (October 2) with her comments, this time on Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri.
Commemorating the birth anniversary of Shastri and Gandhi on Tuesday, Ranaut in a social media post said, “Desh ke pita nahi, desh ke to lal hote hai. Dhanya hain Bharat maa ke ye lal (Country does not have fathers; it has sons. Blessed are these sons of Mother India)”
The Congress accused Ranaut of downplaying Gandhi’s stature as father of the nation.
Ranaut then credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for carrying on Gandhi’s legacy of cleanliness in a post on Instagram.
The actor’s remarks drew criticism from both the BJP and the Congress.
Senior BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia said, “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.” The BJP leader came down heavily on Ranaut, adding that “politics is not her field” and that her “controversial remarks cause trouble for the party”.
Congress leader Supriya Shrinate posted on X, “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? There is the Father of the Nation, there are sons, and there are martyrs. Everyone deserves respect.”
Ranaut’s remarks on Gandhi have come days after her comments on the now-repealed farm laws. After facing backlash, Kangana had to clarify that her statement did not reflect the BJP’s views