Kanagana Ranaut has declared that India attained "real freedom" in 2014, when the Narendra Modi-led government came to power, and described the country's Independence in 1947 as "bheek", or alms.
The firestorm that Kangana Ranaut kicked with her comment that the Independence India won in 1947 was “bheek" intensified on Friday with leaders from BJP and other parties demanding action against the actor even as a complaint was filed against her while some people took to the streets to burn her effigies. There were also demands that the Padma Shri awarded to her should be taken back.
Ranaut, who is often in headlines for her combative statements on issues political or otherwise, kicked off a row on Thursday by declaring that India attained “real freedom" in 2014, when the Narendra Modi-led government came to power, and describing the country’s Independence in 1947 as “bheek", or alms.
The actor made the controversial statement just a day after being awarded the Padma Shri. In Jodhpur, the Mahila Congress lodged a police complaint against Ranaut. Jodhpur Mahila Congress Committee president Manisha Panwar in the complaint said Ranaut insulted freedom fighters and people of the country through her statement, which falls under the “category of sedition". Police said the complaint has been taken up for inquiry. Delhi BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor was among those who slammed the actor, saying that Ranaut’s remarks are an “insult to the sacrifice of freedom fighters