In response to her controversial remarks regarding the 2020-21 farmers’ protests, BJP Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut was called in for a meeting with BJP president and Union Health Minister J P Nadda at his Delhi residence on Thursday morning. This meeting followed the party’s swift move to distance itself from her statements and caution her against making further such remarks.
According to sources, the meeting, reported by The Indian Express, lasted about half an hour, after which Nadda attended an important Haryana core group meeting to finalise candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections. The BJP Central Election Committee is anticipated to officially endorse these candidates shortly.
Ranaut’s summoning is seen as a firm reminder from Nadda to be mindful of her public statements, especially as the party prepares for crucial Assembly elections in key states. These elections are particularly significant for the BJP, as they come on the heels of a decline in their Lok Sabha seats from 303 to 240 in the 2024 elections.
Ranaut’s comments have caused considerable embarrassment for the BJP ahead of the Haryana Assembly polls. Haryana, being a focal point of the farmers’ protests that blocked roads to the national capital for a year, has made these remarks particularly sensitive. The protests ended only after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the repeal of the controversial farm laws.
With Haryana’s Assembly elections approaching in October, there is concern that Ranaut’s comments could negatively impact the BJP’s chances in the state. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP’s performance in Haryana saw a drop from 10 seats to just five, while the Congress gained significantly, increasing its vote share from 28% to 43%.
Opposition parties have been quick to capitalize on Ranaut’s statements, despite the BJP’s efforts to distance itself. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann criticized Ranaut, saying she was elected to address her constituency’s issues, not to make provocative remarks. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu echoed similar sentiments, condemning any disrespect towards the country’s farmers. In Haryana, Aam Aadmi Party members held protests against Ranaut’s statements.
Ranaut, known for her controversial public comments, recently stated in an interview that “what happened in Bangladesh wouldn’t have taken time to happen in India” without strong leadership. She also claimed that crimes like rape and murder occurred during the farmers’ protests and suggested that foreign powers were behind a conspiracy against India. Following these comments, the BJP issued a strong statement distancing itself from her remarks. In a subsequent interview with India Today, Ranaut acknowledged that the party had reprimanded her for her statements.
