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Tag: Kangana Ranaut

  • Kangana Ranaut moves Bombay High Court seeking to quash FIR over ‘anti-Sikh’ comment

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut has approached the Bombay High Court seeking to quash a First Information Report (FIR) registered against her last month by Mumbai Police following a complaint by a Sikh organization.

    Ranaut portrayed the farmers’ protest on Delhi borders against the controversial farm laws as a Khalistani movement in an Instagram post on November 21, the complainants had alleged.

    Following which, a case for ‘hurting religious sentiments’ was registered against her by police here.

    In her post, the actor had referred to “Khalistani terrorists” and invoked former prime minister late Indira Gandhi who “crushed” them.

    The actor’s petition, filed last month through advocate Rizwan Siddiquee, contended that her post was misconstrued and she had no intention of hurting the Sikh community’s sentiments.

    The post was not against farmers but against a banned organization, and it was within her fundamental right to free speech, the actor, known for making controversial statements, said in the plea.

    The HC should “protect her legitimate rights and liberties by quashing the FIR,” said the petition, which is yet to be listed for hearing.

  • Kangana Ranaut faces FIR in Mumbai for ‘derogatory’ remarks against Sikhs

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Police on Tuesday registered an FIR against Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut here for allegedly using derogatory language against the Sikh community in a social media post, an official said.

    The FIR was lodged at the suburban Khar police station a day after the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) submitted a complaint against the actor.

    Ranaut (34) was booked under section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and further investigation was underway, the official said.

    According to the official, the complainant in the case is Amarjeet Singh Sandhu, a Mumbai-based businessman who was part of a DSGMC delegation that submitted the complaint on Monday.

    In a statement, Sandhu accused the actor of making derogatory remarks against his community in a post on Instagram.

    After submitting the complaint, the DSGMC delegation, led by Manjinder Singh Sirsa, a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader who is also president of the organisation, had met Maharashtra home minister Dilip Walse Patil and top officials of the Mumbai police, and demanded action against Ranaut.

    In the complaint, the DSGMC mentioned that Ranaut had intentionally and deliberately portrayed the farmers’ protest (Kisan Morcha) as a “Khalistani” movement and also dubbed the Sikh community as “Khalistani terrorists”.

    She also made references to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and the then prime minister Indira Gandhi, it said.

    In the post, the actor has used very derogatory and insulting language against the Sikh community, according to the complaint.

    “This act on her part is most degrading, disrespectful and contemptuous, which has hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community settled all over the world,” it added.

  • Withdraw Kangana Ranaut’s Padma Shri: Delhi Sikh body to President

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) on Sunday wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind urging him that the Padma Shri conferred on actor Kangana Ranaut be withdrawn as she was “spreading communal hatred, targeting a religious community, and insulting farmers and freedom fighters”.

    The Sikh body filed a police complaint against her on Saturday for allegedly making seditious and derogatory remarks on social media.

    In his letter to the President, DSGMC and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said Ranaut has been “deliberately provoking Sikhs” making references to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

    “She does not deserve this honour. She does not represent the spirit of India which is based on harmony and goodness for all. Considering the social sentiments, Padma Shri should be withdrawn from her immediately for insulting farmers, Sikhs, and freedom fighters,” he said.

    Sirsa said a DSGMC delegation will go to Mumbai on Monday to meet Maharashtra’s Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil and lodge a complaint against Ranaut at the Khar police station.

    He said he will meet the deputy commissioner of police to ensure the registration of an FIR against her.

    “This time it will be ensured that Kangana Ranaut does not get bail and she goes to jail for spitting venom against Sikhs time and again. She is playing the card of Hindutva for cheap publicity,” Sirsa alleged.

  • Complaint filed by A&N Cong against Kangana Ranaut for remark on India’s independence

    By PTI

    PORT BLAIR: The Andaman and Nicobar unit of the Congress has lodged a complaint against actor Kangana Ranaut for describing India’s Independence in 1947 as ‘bheek’ or alms, a party statement said.

    The written complaint was filed at Aberdeen Police Station here by Andaman and Nicobar Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee zonal coordinator (South Andaman) Zubaida Begum on Wednesday, it said.

    The Bollywood actor’s comment was absolutely “shocking and highly objectionable and in bad taste.

    It also defies decency, dignity and decorum, which is expected from a person who is conferred with one of the highest awards,” Andaman and Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee president Rangalal Halder said in the statement.

    Ranaut had recently described India’s Independence as “bheek”, or alms, and declared that the country attained “real freedom” in 2014. She was apparently referring to Narendra Modi becoming the prime minister that year.

    Ranaut had on Tuesday claimed Subhas Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh got no support from Mahatma Gandhi and went on to mock his mantra of ahimsa by saying that offering another cheek gets you “bheek” not freedom.

    The Congress had on Thursday said her remarks amounted to “treason” and demanded the government take back the Padma Shri bestowed on her recently as she has “insulted” the country’s Independence movement.

  • Assam Congress files police complaint against Kangana for remarks against Mahatma Gandhi

    By PTI

    GUWAHATI: The Congress in Assam on Thursday filed a police complaint against actress Kangana Ranaut for allegedly making defamatory statements against Mahatma Gandhi and the freedom movement.

    The complaint, filed at the Dispur police station in Guwahati, urged the police to register an FIR against her under sections related to sedition, claiming that she insulted the Independence that India got in 1947.

    The police, however, is yet to register a case against the actress, who recently was conferred the Padma Shri award.

    Days after her “India’s Independence in 1947 was bheek (alms)” remarks triggered a row, Ranaut on November 16 claimed that Subhas Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh got no support from Mahatma Gandhi and went on to mock his mantra of ‘ahimsa’ (non-violence) by saying that offering another cheek gets you “bheek” not freedom.

    It is a grave insult to martyrs and a seditious statement, the Congress claimed in its complaint and asserted that freedom was a birthright of every Indian and it was achieved due to the sacrifice of thousands of martyrs including Mahatma Gandhi.

    The party alleged that Ranaut’s statements have hurt the Indian people and disrespected freedom fighters of Assam as well as India.

    Ranaut had also declared that freedom came in 2014 when the Narendra Modi-led government came to power at the Centre.

  • ‘Even PM is inspired by him’: Delhi BJP leader slams Kangana Ranaut’s remarks against Mahatma Gandhi

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Delhi BJP spokesperson Nighat Abbass on Wednesday slammed actor Kangana Ranaut over her series of controversial statements against Mahatma Gandhi, saying even Prime Minister Narendra Modi is inspired by the Father of the Nation and such remarks “defame the country at the international level”.

    Ranaut on Tuesday claimed that Subhas Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh got no support from Mahatma Gandhi and went on to mock his mantra of Ahimsa by saying that offering another cheek gets you ‘bheek’ not freedom.

    “I want to know what Kangana Ranaut wants to become by saying absurd things about him. By saying such absurd things she is regularly raising questions on the freedom struggle and is hurting the people of the country. I believe she is not just hurting people of the country but defaming India at international level,” said Abbass in a video posted on Twitter.

    In making the ‘bheek’ comment, Ranaut wound the clock back to last week when she described India’s Independence as ‘bheek’, or alms, and declared that freedom came in 2014, when the Narendra Modi-led government came to power.

    In a series of posts on Instagram, Ranaut this time targeted Mahatma Gandhi and said ‘choose your heroes wisely’.

    “Those are the ones who taught us, ‘If someone slaps you offer another cheek for one more slap’ and that is how you will get Aazadi. That’s not how one gets Aazadi, one can only get ‘bheekh’ like that. Choose your heros wisely (sic),” the 34-year-old actor said.

    ALSO READ | Kangana Ranaut demands strict action against Vir Das after ‘I come from two Indias’ monologue

    According to Abbass, both the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, who”is and will always be the Father of the Nation”.

    “Mahatma Gandhi has been given the Father of the Nation status by the people of the country. Whose ideals have kept the Bharatiyata alive in the country, Whose thinking has inspired our Prime Minister Narendra Bhai Modi also,” she added.

    Earlier, Ranaut’s ‘azaadi’ statement at an event organised by a news channel last week, just two days after she was presented the Padma Shri by President Ram Nath Kovind, saw politicians, historians, academics, fellow actors and others lashing out at her for views with many demanding withdrawal of her award.

    Then another Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor called Ranaut’s remarks an “insult to the sacrifice of freedom fighters”, even demanding a judicial action against her.

  • ‘One should not give importance to such statements’: Nitish chides Kangana, Khurshid

    By PTI

    PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday rubbished actor Kangana Ranaut’s remark about India getting Independence in 2014, saying, one should not even take notice of such things.

    Talking to reporters on the sidelines of his weekly public interaction programme ‘Janata Ke Darbaar Mein Mukhyamantri’, Kumar said he does not pay attention to people who make such statements for publicity.

    “How can anyone publish this? We should not even take notice of it. Should we even pay attention to it? One should not give importance to such statements. In fact, it should be made fun of,” he said.

    The actor had, in a recent interview, remarked that India got its freedom in 2014 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power and what it got in 1947 was “bheekh” (alms or handout).

    Her comments sparked outrage among politicians and common citizens alike.

    Many said she had insulted the country’s freedom fighters and their sacrifice, while some demanded that the government withdraw the Padma Shri award conferred on her recently.

    He also took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday over his comments making a distinction between Hindu religion and Hindutva, asserting some people say “unnecessary things” to stay in limelight.

    He was responding to questions from journalists on the sidelines of his weekly public interaction programme “Janata Ke Darbaar Mein Mukhyamantri”, where he also defended his government’s prohibition policy against opposition criticism following the recent death of around 50 people after consuming spurious liquor.

    “What should I say on this?” Kumar shot back when asked to comment on Gandhi’s remarks.

    Without naming Rahul Gandhi, Kumar said, “You should ask the person who has made the statement. Some people have developed an attitude to say unnecessary things to remain in the limelight. So that the media covers them. This practice is quite prevalent in Bihar where certain people (opposition leaders) level allegations against me to hog the limelight in newspapers.”

    Gandhi had recently said Hindu dharma and Hindutva are “different things” and accused the BJP and RSS of spreading hatred.

    The BJP shot back, claiming the Congress leadership nurses a “pathological hatred” for Hinduism.

    “Is Hinduism about beating a Sikh, or a Muslim. Hindutva, of course, is. In which book is it written? I have not seen it. I have read the Upanishads. I have not read it,” Gandhi had said, as he sought to draw a distinction between Hinduism and Hindutva.

    Gandhi’s remarks had come in the backdrop of the controversy kicked up by a book authored by senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid.

    In his book ‘Sunrise Over Ayodhya: Nationhood in Our Times’ Khurshid had equated the “robust version” of Hindutva to Jihadist Islam of terror groups like ISIS and Boko Haram.

    Responding to questions about the recent incidents of hooch deaths, Kumar said he has called a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the issue of liquor ban.

    “I am once again saying that stern action will be taken against violators, including government officials,” he asserted.

    He, however, insisted the crime rate in Bihar has come down after the liquor ban was imposed.

    “The state government will again start the campaign to spread awareness about the ill-effects of drinking. I am not bothered about those who are criticising me for the liquor ban,” he said.

    The Nitish Kumar government had on April 5, 2016 banned the manufacture, trade, storage, transportation, sale and consumption of liquor in the state.

    Amid mounting criticism from the Opposition over deaths caused by spurious liquor, Kumar is also facing heat from his ally BJP, which has sought a review of the state’s prohibition policy.

  • Withdraw Kangana Ranaut’s Padma Shri: DCW chief Swati Maliwal writes to President Ram Nath Kovind

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday urging him to withdraw the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award, bestowed on actor Kangana Ranaut for her remarks allegedly belittling the country’s Independence.

    Ranaut on Thursday had kicked off a row by saying India attained “real freedom” in 2014, apparently referring to the Narendra Modi-led government assuming power, and describing the country’s Independence in 1947 as “bheek” (alms).

    Maliwal, in her letter, said the actor had “made certain outrageous statements disgracing the great freedom fighters of the country”.

    The DCW chief also demanded sedition charges against the ‘Queen’ actor.

    “These statements reflect her hatred for our great freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh and countless others who laid down their lives for the nation! We all know that our nation got its Independence from British rule through ultimate sacrifices and martyrdom of our great freedom fighters,” she wrote.

    Highlighting that Ranaut’s statements have hurt the sentiments of millions of Indians and are “seditious” in nature, she urged the president to “kindly take cognizance of the matter and withdraw the Padma Shri honour bestowed upon Ms Ranaut”.

    “I also request you to kindly ensure that an FIR is registered against her on charges of sedition. I hope that you will uphold the sentiments of crores of Indians and do the needful in the matter,” Maliwal stressed.

    The DCW chief said Ranaut, “through her insensitive and thoughtless lies”, had demeaned and belittled “the sacrifices of millions of Indians who participated” in various movements such as the revolt of 1857, the Champaran Satyagrah, the Khilafat Movement, the Quit India Movement, the Dandi March and the Non Cooperation Movement among several others.

    “How can we forget the thousands who had assembled at the Jallianwala Bagh to protest against British rule and the massacre that followed? Are these chapters in our history a ‘bheek’?” Maliwal sought to know.

    She also pointed out that it was not a stray incident by the actor and that “Ranaut appears to not be of sound mind”.

    “She habitually spews venom against people of her own country and has repeatedly used vile language to attack those she does not agree with. Her behaviour is in no way befitting of the recipient of the highest award in the country and is also an insult to the stalwarts who received the award with and before her,” Maliwal added.

    Ranaut was recently awarded the Padma Shri.

  • ‘Bheek’ remark: Kangana plays defiant card, asks which war took place in 1947

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Under attack for describing India’s Independence as “bheek”, a combative Kangana Ranaut on Saturday asked which war took place in 1947 and said she would return her Padma Shri and apologise too if anyone could answer her question.

    The actor, known for her provocative and often inflammatory statements, came under more pressure to withdraw her comments with Maharashtra’s ruling Shiv Sena saying she should be stripped of all national awards and the Delhi Mahila Congress writing to the police commissioner to say she should be booked for sedition among other things.

    But Ranaut maintained a defiant stance.

    She posted a series of questions on Instagram, also bringing in partition as well as Mahatma Gandhi and alleging that he let Bhagat Singh die and did not support Subhas Chandra Bose.

    The “Manikarnika” actor, whose Twitter account has been suspended, shared a passage from a book quoting freedom fighters, including Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Aurobindo Ghosh and Bipin Chandra Pal, and said she knew about the “collective fight for freedom of 1857 but nothing about a war in 1947.

    “Just to set the records (sic) straight. 1857 first collective fight for freedom along with sacrifice of greats like Subhash Chandra Bose, Rani Laxmibai and Veer Savarkar ji.”

    “1857 I know but which war took place in 1947 I am not aware, if someone can bring to my awareness I will give back my Padma Shri and apologise also please help me with this (sic),” the 34-year-old actor wrote in a lengthy post in English in her Instagram Stories.

    Ranaut had kicked off a major row with her comments at an event organised by a news channel on Wednesday evening, declaring that India attained “real freedom” in 2014, when the Narendra Modi-led government came to power, and saying Independence in 1947 was “bheek”, or alms.

    The controversial statement, two days after she was presented the Padma Shri by President Ram Nath Kovind, led to outrage from several quarters, including politicians from across the spectrum, historians, academics, fellow actors and others, with many saying she should return her award.

    On Saturday, she kept up the discussion.

    Referring to her 2019 period movie “Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi”, in which she played the role of freedom fighter Rani Lakshmi Bai, the actor said she had done extensive research on the 1857 struggle.

    “Nationalism rose so did right wing, but why it died a sudden death? And why Gandhi let Bhagat Singh die. Why Neta Bose was killed and never got Gandhi ji’s support? why line of partition was drawn by a white man?instead of celebrating freedom why Indians killed each other some of the answers I am seeking please help me find answers (sic),” she asked.

    Saying that the British had looted India to the “point of saturation”, she went on to claim that even a “small fight by the INA” would have got us freedom and Bose could have been prime minister.

    “Why freedom was placed in the begging bowl of congress when right wing was prepared to fight and take it. Can someone please help me understand (sic),” she wrote.

    The ever defiant Ranaut went on to say she would return her Padma Shri if anyone could help her find answers to the questions and could prove that she had disrespected martyrs and freedom fighters.

    The actor also clarified the part of her statement where she said the country gained “freedom in 2014”.

    “As far as Aazadi in 2014 concerned I specifically said physical Aazadi we may have but consciousness and conscience of India was set free in 2014. A dead civilisation came alive and fluttered its wings and now roaring and soaring high.”

    In her letter to Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana, Delhi Mahila Congress chief Amrrita Dhawan requested him to lodge an FIR against Ranaut under Sections 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), /505 (public mischief) and 124A (sedition) of the IPC and other relevant sections of law and initiate proper criminal proceedings before the competent court.

    Dhawan alleged that Ranaut had “publicly insulted” and shown “disrespect” to all the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives during the country’s freedom movement.

    Ranaut also came in for flak from the Shiv Sena, which was at loggerheads with the actor last year after she compared Mumbai with Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

    In an editorial in its party mouthpiece Saamana, the Sena demanded that Ranaut be stripped of all the national awards she had won over the years.

    A day earlier, in Jodhpur, the Mahila Congress filed a complaint against her.

    In Indore, a group of freedom fighters in Indore set on fire an effigy of the actor, demanded an apology and submitted a memorandum at the Indore divisional commissioner’s office.

    And in Mumbai, NSUI workers held a protest outside her home.

    Political leaders, including BJP MP Varun Gandhi, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil, Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, are among the host of people who criticised Ranaut for her statement.

    “#KanganaRanaut may think India got Independence in 2014 but this cannot be endorsed by any true Indian. This is an insult to millions of freedom fighters who gave up their lives so that present generations can live a life of self-respect & dignity as free citizens of a democracy,” Times Now said on Twitter on Friday.

  • Freedom remark row: Which war took place in 1947, asks defiant Kangana Ranaut on Instagram

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Under attack for describing India’s Independence as “bheek”, a combative Kangana Ranaut on Saturday asked which war took place in 1947 and said she would return her Padma Shri and apologise too if anyone could answer her question.

    The actor, known for her provocative and often inflammatory statements, posted a series of questions on Instagram, also bringing in partition as well as Mahatma Gandhi and alleging that he let Bhagat Singh die and did not support Subhas Chandra Bose.

    She shared a passage from a book quoting freedom fighters, including Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Aurobindo Ghosh and Bipin Chandra Pal, and said she knew about the “collective fight for freedom” of 1857 but nothing about a war in 1947.

    “Just to set the records (sic) straight. 1857 first collective fight for freedom along with sacrifice of greats like Subhash Chandra Bose, Rani Laxmibai and Veer Savarkar ji.

    “1857 I know but which war took place in 1947 I am not aware, if someone can bring to my awareness I will give back my Padma Shri and apologise also… please help me with this (sic),” the 34-year-old actor wrote in a lengthy post in English in her Instagram Stories.

    Ranaut had kicked off a major row with her comments at an event organised by a news channel on Wednesday evening, declaring that India attained “real freedom” in 2014, when the Narendra Modi-led government came to power, and saying Independence in 1947 was “bheek”, or alms.

    The controversial statement, two days after she was presented the Padma Shri by President Ram Nath Kovind, led to outrage from several quarters, including politicians from across the spectrum, historians, academics, fellow actors and others, with many saying she should return her award.

    On Saturday, she kept up the discussion.

    Referring to her 2019 period movie “Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi”, in which she played the role of freedom fighter Rani Lakshmi Bai, the actor said she had done extensive research on the 1857 struggle.

    “Nationalism rose so did right wing but why it died a sudden death? And why Gandhi let Bhagat Singh die. Why Neta Bose was killed and never got Gandhi ji’s support? why line of partition was drawn by a white man. 

    “Instead of celebrating freedom why Indians killed each other some of the answers I am seeking please help me find answers (sic),” she asked.

    Saying that the British had looted India to the “point of saturation”, she went on to claim that even a “small fight by the INA” would have got us freedom and Bose could have been prime minister.

    “Why freedom was placed in the begging bowl of congress when right wing was prepared to fight and take it. Can someone please help me understand (sic),” she wrote.

    The ever defiant Ranaut went on to say she would return her Padma Shri if anyone could help her find answers to the questions and could prove that she had disrespected martyrs and freedom fighters.

    The actor also clarified the part of her statement where she said the country gained “freedom in 2014”.

    “As far as Aazadi in 2014 concerned I specifically said physical Aazadi we may have but consciousness and conscience of India was set free in 2014. A dead civilisation came alive and fluttered its wings and now roaring and soaring high.

    Leaders from the BJP are among those who have demanded action against the actor.

    In Jodhpur, the Mahila Congress filed a complaint against her on Friday.

    In Indore, a group of freedom fighters set on fire an effigy of the actor, demanded an apology and submitted a memorandum at the Indore divisional commissioner’s office.

    And in Mumbai, NSUI workers held a protest outside her home.

    Political leaders, including BJP MP Varun Gandhi, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil, Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, are among the host of people who criticised Ranaut for her statement.