Indian actor Ranaut slapped at airport over comments on farmers’ protest
Chandigarh: Indian actor Kangana Ranaut, who was just elected as a member of parliament on a BJP ticket, was slapped by a security guard at Chandigarh airport.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the CISF [Central Industrial Security Force] constable Kulwinder Kaur was reportedly offended by Ranaut’s past comments on the farmers’ protest. Kaur waited for Ranaut to cross the security checkpoint before slapping her.
Ranaut was travelling to New Delhi days after her election win from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi constituency. After the security check, Ranaut went to the boarding gate where she was slapped by the security guard.
The CISF has suspended Kaur and registered an FIR registered against her.
According to NDTV, Kaur was offended by an old remark the actor made about the farmers’ protest. The Indian publication quoted the CISF constable — who reportedly comes from a family of farmers — as having said, “She [Ranaut] gave a statement… that farmers are sitting there for INR 100. Will she go and sit there? My mother was sitting there and protesting when she gave this statement”. She also said that Ranaut disrespected farmers through her comments.
The farmers’ movement in India’s Punjab has been active since the Modi regime approved three controversial agricultural bills in 2020. Ranaut has repeatedly spoken out against the movement, and in October 2021, the Karnataka Police filed a FIR against the actor for her calling farmers protesting the Indian government’s new agriculture laws “terrorists”.
