The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has publicly distanced itself from Kangana Ranaut, the Mandi MP, over her comments regarding the farmers' protest. The BJP clarified that Ranaut's views on the farmers' agitation do not represent the party's official position, emphasizing that she is not authorized to speak on policy matters on behalf of the BJP. In response to Ranaut's controversial statements, the party directed her to refrain from making such comments in the future.
Ranaut sparked controversy by implying that the farmers’ protests could have escalated into a situation similar to Bangladesh if the government had not taken decisive actions. In a video shared on her social media handle, she alleged instances of violence such as bodies hanging and rapes during the protests, attributing the ongoing demonstrations to vested interests and "foreign powers." Her statements drew criticism from senior BJP leader Harjit Garewal, who emphasized that speaking on farmer-related issues is not Ranaut's role and warned against making sensitive comments that could potentially impact the party negatively.
The timing of Ranaut's remarks is noteworthy, coming ahead of the assembly elections in Haryana, where her statements could potentially amplify farmers’ discontent towards the BJP. This incident is not the first time that Ranaut has faced backlash for her comments on farmers, as she previously stirred controversy during the anti-farm laws protest in 2020 by making derogatory remarks about a farmer. The episode once again underscores the delicate balance political figures must strike when speaking on sensitive issues such as agriculture and protests.