Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut stoked yet another controversy because of her post on Instagram Stories that seemingly downplayed Mahatma Gandhi's stature as the Father of the Nation. Her post paying homage to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary came on Gandhi Jayanti.
The Mandi MP has been heavily criticised for her remarks ever since she won the Lok Sabha polls. Most recently, her remarks on farmers' protests drew ire from members of the Opposition.
"Desh ke pita nahi, desh ke to lal hote hai. Dhanye hai Bharat ma ke ye lal (The country does not have fathers; it has sons. Blessed are these sons of Mother India)," she said on Instagram Stories.
In a follow-up post, she credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for carrying forward Mahatma Gandhi's legacy of maintaining cleanliness in the country.
Her remark comparing Lal Bahadur Shastri with Mahatma Gandhi drew a sharp reaction from Congress leader Supriya Shrinate, who accused her of being BJP's "new Godse devotee".
"BJP MP Kangana made this lewd jibe on Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary. Godse worshippers draw distinctions between Bapu and Shastri ji. Will Narendra Modi wholeheartedly forgive his party's new Godse devotee? There is the Father of the Nation, there are sons, and there are martyrs. Everyone deserves respect," Shrinate said.
Kangana was also criticised by BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia, who said that the Mandi MP had made a habit of making such controversial remarks, which have caused trouble for the saffron party.
"I condemn Kangana Ranaut's comments made on Gandhi ji's 155th birth anniversary. In her short political career, she has developed a habit of making controversial statements," Kalia said. .
"Politics is not her field. Politics is a serious affair. One must think before speaking... Her controversial remarks cause trouble for the party," he added.
She had earlier said that the farmers' protest against the three farm laws was creating a Bangladesh-like situation in the country. She had said that "rapes were taking place" at the farmers' protest sites.
