'Those who don't care...': Jairam Thakur attacks Kangana Ranaut over absence amid Mandi floods; Congress jumps to political blame game

Jairam Thakur

Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jairam Thakur has attacked fellow party actress-politician Kangana Ranaut over her absence in supporting the people of Himachal Pradesh amid floods caused by a cloudburst in Mandi.

When asked about Kangana's absence, Thakur, in a video that has now gone viral, said that he does not want to comment on it. "We are here to live and die with the people of Mandi...we care about them. Those who don't care...I don't want to comment on them."

Ranaut took to X to say that Thakur had advised her to not visit Mandi. "It is heartbreaking to see massive flood devastation in Himachal almost every year now, I tried reaching to flood affected areas in Seraj and other areas in Mandi, but advised by respected leader of opposition Shri @jairamthakurbjp ji to wait untill the connectivity and reach to the affected areas are restored. Red alert is issued by Mandi DC today as well. Awaiting authorities approval on the same, will be there soonest possible. Thanks," Ranait wrote.

Meanwhile, the Indian National Congress shared Jairam's viral video and said that it is not them who are accusing Kangana for her absence but her fellow party member. "MP Kangana Ranaut doesn't care about the people of Mandi — this isn't our claim, but the words of Himachal Pradesh's former CM and BJP leader Jairam Thakur. While people in Mandi are suffering after a devastating cloudburst, their MP is nowhere to be seen," Congress posted on X.

On July 2, Ranaut had expressed concern over the situation. "The heart-wrenching tragedy of the cloudburst in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, is deeply painful. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. May the departed souls rest in peace. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and the safe return of those missing. I appeal to the Himachal CM to expedite relief and rescue operations and ensure immediate assistance to the affected," her X post read.