By Targeting Farmers, Ranaut Compromises BJP Chances in Haryana

Kangana Ranaut’s new movie Emergency is due to be released on 6 Sep. Ranaut plays former PM Indira Gandhi in the movie that showcases India’s Emergency (1975-1977). Emergency is also BJP’s favorite whip to beat INC. They invoke the dark days in campaigns, in Parliament, and recently declared 25 Jun – the day Emergency was imposed – as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas (Murder of Constitution Day). As soon as the trailer was out, Independent MP Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and other Sikh groups asked for a ban on the movie over the negative portrayal of Sikhs. The call has gone unheeded. In any case, the movie on the Emergency has no need to portray incidents after it – the river water dispute, law and order situation, and demand for Khalistan. Instead, though the BJP milks the Emergency for political benefit, SAD at that time was the real opposition to Gandhi. While current PM Narendra Modi was then hiding in Sikh garb, Akali cadres courted arrests and leaders refused to compromise with Gandhi. On 24 Aug, like during the Farmers’ Protest 1.0, Ranaut said, ‘The protests could have led to a situation like Bangladesh (with the govt. being toppled) and China and the US are supporting the protests.’ (SDW Vol 2 Issue 24, Story 7). Her statement affects BJP’s chances in the soon to be held Haryana elections. BJP had to issue a statement saying, ‘MP Ranaut’s remark does not represent the party's views and the party disagrees with it.’ BJP has forbidden Ranaut from issuing statements. Panjab politicians criticized Ranaut and farmers are demanding her apology.