Prayagraj: Actor-turned-politician Chirag Paswan has offered advice to fellow actor and MP Kangana Ranaut, who has recently faced backlash over controversial statements on farm laws that contradict her party’s stance. “I am not upset with Kangana, but she isn’t just an artist now but also a member of a political party. I accept the fact that you might have your own personal opinion, but when you are part of a political party, it becomes your responsibility to put forward the topics of that party…she is new to politics, and she is taking time to understand things, but she is intelligent, and she will understand these things soon,” Chirag Paswan told reporters on Thursday.
Paswan’s comments followed Kangana’s interview where she suggested that the controversial farm laws, repealed in 2021 after significant farmer protests, should be reinstated. The BJP MP from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, urged the government to reintroduce the three laws, asserting that farmers should advocate for their return. “”I know this statement could be controversial, but the three farm laws should be brought back. Farmers themselves should demand it,” she stated.
Her remarks triggered a strong reaction, with her own party rebuking her. BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill criticized Kangana’s “baseless and illogical” comments about farmers and the Sikh community, claiming they harm the positive work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Punjab, Punjabi, and Punjabiyat.
Following calls for an apology from the opposition Congress, Kangana retracted her remarks and issued an apology. She added that moving forward, she will ensure her views align with the party’s stance rather than representing her personal opinions.
Sharing a post on X(previously Twitter), she stated, “When farmer’s laws were proposed, a lot of people came out in support of them, but with a lot of sensitivity, our Prime Minister retracted those laws, so it is the responsibility of all the workers of his party to respect his words. I will also have to keep one thing in mind that now I am not an artist but a BJP worker. My opinions will not just be mine but will represent the party’s stand. So if I have hurt anyone’s sentiments with my thoughts, I regret it and take my words back.”
Last month, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) distanced itself from Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut’s statement about the farmers’ agitation and also asked the actor-turned-politician to refrain from giving such statements in the future. It is to be noted that Chirag Paswan and Kangana Ranaut, both members of Lok Sabha, previously acted together in the 2011 film Miley Naa Miley Hum, which marked Chirag’s acting debut.
