‘Personal remarks’: BJP distances from Kangana Ranaut’s ‘bring back farm laws’ remark

Kangana Ranaut, BJP MP from mandi, Himachal Pradesh. (File Photo: PTI)

As party MP and actress Kangana Ranaut stirred a row with her remarks demanding that the now-withdrawn farm laws be brought back “in the interest of all farmers”, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday sought to distance from the statement, clarifying that the MP was “not authorised” to make such remarks on behalf of the party.

In a video statement released on social media last evening, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia referred to Ranaut’s remarks that had drawn the ire of the Opposition and said that the party disapproves of her statement.

“I want to make it clear that this statement (that farm laws be brought back) is a personal statement of hers. Kangana Ranaut is not authorised to make such a statement on behalf of BJP and it doesn't depict BJP's view on the farm bills. We disapprove of this statement,” Bhatia said.

The introduction of the farm laws in September 2020 had led to large-scale protests by farmers and a year-long blockade of Delhi's borders. The blockade was removed only after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an address to the nation in November 2021, apologised for ‘failing to convince’ the farmers, and withdrew the laws.

The protesters, a majority of whom hailed from Punjab, also came from neighbouring Haryana. The anger over the issue was reflected in the Lok Sabha elections as the BJP’s tally in Haryana halved from 10 to five in the state.

With the state heading into polls less than 10 days from now, the BJP which is already battling a 10-year anti-incumbency, is hoping to steer clear from any controversy over the issue.

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Congress (@INCIndia) September 24, 2024

On Tuesday, Ranaut said that the laws – rolled back by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2021 – "should be brought back... (and) farmers themselves should demand it".

"I know this will be controversial... but I feel the farms laws that were repealed should be brought back.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," she said.

Kangana Ranaut’s remarks drew the ire of the Congress which slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party MP over the remarks.

On her part, Ranaut took to her X handle and acknowledged that the remarks were her personal views and did not reflect those of her party.

“Absolutely, my views on Farmers Laws are personal and they don’t represent party’s stand on those Bills. Thanks (sic),” Kangana Ranaut wrote on social media.