New Delhi:

Newly-elected BJP MP and Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has asked people in her Lok Sabha constituency, Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi, to bring their Aadhaar Cards with them if they want to meet her, drawing Congress’ ire.

Speaking to reporters, Ms Ranaut also said the purpose of their visit will have to be written down on paper so that they don’t face any inconvenience.

“Himachal Pradesh attracts a lot of tourists, so it is necessary to have an Aadhaar card from the Mandi area. Your work related to the constituency should also be written in the letter so that you don’t have to face inconvenience,” she said.

“Tourists come so much that common people face a lot of inconveniences,” she said.

She also said that if people from Himachal’s northern region want to meet her, they can visit her home in Manali, while people in Mandi can visit her office in the city.

“It is better when you meet in person regarding your work,” she added.

Congress Attacks Kangana Ranaut

Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh, who lost to Kangana Ranaut from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat, attacked his rival and said if the people want to meet him, they “don’t need to bring the Aadhaar card”.

“We are people’s representatives. So, it is our responsibility to meet people from every section of the state. Whether it is a small task, a big task, a policy matter, or a personal work, it does not require any identity. If a person is coming to a public representative, they are coming for some work,” Mr Singh, who is also the sitting state Public Works Minister, told reporters.

“Asking people to bring their papers for a meeting is not right,” Mr Singh, the son of six times Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh and state Congress chief Pratibha Singh, said.

Kangana Ranaut is sure. And says so is everybody else about Prime Minister Narendra Modi returning to power for a third straight term.  

“It has not happened in the history of our democracy where polling is underway, votes are yet to be counted, yet everybody knows PM Modi is coming back… Everyone is waiting for him to take oath for the third time, Ms Ranaut, BJP candidate from Mandi, told NDTV on Tuesday.

PM Modi, accompanied by a galaxy of leaders from party and alliance partners, filed his nomination from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh earlier today.

Varanasi will vote in the seventh and final phase of this election – on June 1. In the 2019 poll, PM Modi won by nearly 4.8 lakh votes, a big jump from the 3.72 lakh winning margin five years earlier.

Ms Ranaut, BJP candidate from Mandi, also filed her nomination today. Downplaying her nomination on the same day as the Prime Minister’s, she called it a “small coincidence” and a “good omen” for her.

“There were two good muhurat days, depending on your chart. I was suggested 10 and 14, and I chose 14 because I am number 5. And I  thought I should go with number 5. Luckily, today our PM also filed his nomination. A good coincidence for me. I will say it is my lucky charm.  I am thrilled. Even if it’s a small coincidence, it’s a good omen for me,” said the actor, making her electoral debut.

The Mandi constituency holds symbolic significance for the Congress, as it is considered a bastion of the Virbhadra family.

Ms Ranaut will square off against Congress’ Vikramaditya Singh, the son of late former chief minister Virbhadra Singh.

“I have been fortunate to have a very successful film career. Probably, I am the only one to have come from a rural area and make it so big in the film industry. I am quite optimistic that I learn the job pretty soon and will be able to do something significant,” she said about her priorities.

“Sabka saath, sabka vikas is our agenda. From airport to railways to coonnectivity…going to work on overall development,” she added.

The BJP, which won all four Lok Sabha constituencies in the state in the 2019 elections, is eyeing an encore this time.

Chandigarh:

Every woman, irrespective of her background and profession, deserves dignity, actor Kangana Ranaut said on Tuesday, adding that she was particularly pained by Congress leaders’ comments on Mandi from where she is contesting the Lok Sabha elections on a BJP ticket.

Mandi is often referred to as “chota Kashi” the world over, Ms Ranaut told reporters outside the Chandigarh airport.

Congress leaders Supriya Shrinate and H S Ahir have kicked up a huge political row with derogatory comments on Ms Ranaut and Mandi posted on their social media handles.

“Whatever be the profession of a woman, be it a teacher, actress, journalist, politician, or a sex worker, all of them deserve dignity. I’m pained especially because of the deplorable comments made about Mandi… All of us who come from Mandi have been hurt by the comments,” Ms Ranaut said.

Asked whether she plans to take any action against the two Congress leaders, she said she had been called to Delhi by BJP president J P Nadda and would respond only after meeting him.

“I have to maintain the dignity of the party. I can’t walk before it. I have to walk with them and follow their instructions.”

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has written to the Election Commission demanding strict action against Ms Shrinate and Mr Ahir for their comments against Ms Ranaut.

“National Commission for Women is appalled by the disgraceful conduct of Ms. Supriya Shrinate and Mr H S Ahir, who made lewd and derogatory remarks about @KanganaTeam on social media. Such behavior is intolerable and goes against the dignity of women. @sharmarekha has sent a letter to the Election commissioner of India demanding an immediate and strict action against them. Let’s uphold respect and dignity for all women.#RespectWomen,” the NCW said in a post on Monday.

Kangana Ranaut, 37, had earlier hit out at Ms Shrinate, saying that she has played various roles and every woman deserves dignity.

“Dear Supriya ji, in the last 20 years of my career as an artist I have played all kinds of women. From a naive girl in ‘Queen’ to a seductive spy in ‘Dhaakad’, from a goddess in ‘Manikarnika’ to a demon in ‘Chandramukhi’, from a prostitute in ‘Rajjo’ to a revolutionary leader in ‘Thalaivii’,” Ms Ranaut tweeted.

Ms Shrinate clarified that many people have access to her Facebook and Instagram accounts, and someone from them made the inappropriate post.

“As soon as I came to know, I deleted that post. Everyone who knows me, also knows very well that I can never make personal and indecent comments towards any woman. I wanted to know how this happened,” she said.

Mr Ahir, state joint co-ordinator of Kisan Congress, also made derogatory remarks against Ms Ranaut. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

A derogatory post by a Congress leader on actor Kangana Ranaut’s electoral debut has sparked a fresh controversy, with the National Commission of Women demanding action against the politician.

The post accompanying a photo of Ms Ranaut from the Instagram handle of Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate landed weeks before the national elections. Ms Ranaut is contesting the elections on a BJP ticket from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.

The ‘Queen’ actor took to social media to respond to Ms Shrinate’s remarks, pointing out that she has played different women roles, “from a prostitute in Rajjo to a revolutionary leader in Thalaivii.”

“We must free our daughters from the shackles of prejudices, we must rise above the curiosity about their body parts and above all we must refrain from using sex workers’ challenging lives or circumstances as some kind of abuse or slur… every woman deserves her dignity,” she said.

Ms Shrinate issued a video clarification and said she had deleted the “inappropriate posts” that were made from her handle without her knowledge.

Read | Kangana Ranaut, ‘Ramayan’ Actor Arun Govil Make Poll Debut With BJP

“Many people have access to my Facebook and Instagram accounts. Someone from them made an extremely inappropriate post today. As soon as I came to know, I deleted that post. Everyone who knows me, also knows very well that I can never make personal and indecent comments towards any woman,” she said.

मेरे फेसबुक और इंस्टा के अकाउंट पर कई लोगों का एक्सेस है. इसमें से किसी व्यक्ति ने आज एक बेहद घृणित और आपत्तिजनक पोस्ट किया था.

मुझे जैसे ही इसकी जानकारी हुई मैंने वह पोस्ट हटा दिया. जो भी मुझे जानते हैं, वह यह अच्छी तरह से जानते हैं कि मैं किसी भी महिला के लिए व्यक्तिगत भोंडी… pic.twitter.com/CFDNXuxmo2

— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) March 25, 2024

She blamed a parody account being run with her name which made the “objectionable post”. “Someone copied it from there and posted it on my Instagram and Facebook accounts. I am trying to know who has done this from those who have access. I have also reported this parody account to Twitter,” added Ms Shrinate.

Video |Actor Kangana Ranaut Cleans Ayodhya’s Hanuman Garhi Temple

Ms Ranaut also shared the screenshot of a conversation in which a Gujarat Congress leader is seen making a vile remark on her electoral debut.

“If a young man gets ticket his ideology is attacked if a young woman gets ticket her sexuality is attacked. Strange!! Also congress people are sexualising a small town’s name. Mandi is being used in sexual context everywhere, just because it has a young woman candidate, shame on Congress people for displaying sexist tendencies,” she said.

But the clarification did little to extinguish the fire with Union Minister Smriti Irani leading the BJP attack on the Congress.

“This initiation into politics by fire @KanganaTeam is not a reflection on who you are but on what they have done & are capable of continuing to do for they can’t fathom how to deal with women of steel. March onto victory. Vijayi Bhav,” said Ms Irani, sharing Ms Ranaut’s post.

The NCW has shot off a letter to the Election Commission of India demanding immediate and strict action against them.

National Commission for Women is appalled by the disgraceful conduct of Ms. Supriya Shrinate and Mr. H.S. Ahir, who made lewd and derogatory remarks about @KanganaTeam on social media. Such behavior is intolerable and goes against the dignity of women. @sharmarekha has sent a…

— NCW (@NCWIndia) March 25, 2024

“National Commission for Women is appalled by the disgraceful conduct of Ms. Supriya Shrinate and Mr. H.S. Ahir, who made lewd and derogatory remarks about @KanganaTeam on social media. Such behavior is intolerable and goes against the dignity of women,” said the women’s body.