BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, who secured a Lok Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi, was preparing to board a flight to Delhi when the incident occurred.
New Delhi: Newly elected Member of Parliament (MP) and actor Kangana Ranaut was allegedly slapped by a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) constable at Chandigarh airport. The incident reportedly stemmed from accusations of disrespecting farmers. Ms. Ranaut, who recently won the Lok Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi, was about to board a flight to Delhi when the altercation occurred.
The CISF constable involved in the incident has been identified as Kulwinder Kaur. Following the incident, Kaur was suspended, and a First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against her.
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Allegations and Context
According to sources, after slapping Ms. Ranaut, the paramilitary constable claimed the action was in response to the actor-turned-MP’s alleged disrespect towards farmers. This reference points to the prolonged 15-month protest by farmers against the farm laws, which were eventually repealed, and their demand for a legal guarantee of the minimum support price during 2020-2021.
Incident Details
Mobile footage captured Ms. Ranaut being escorted by a ring of security officers towards the security check-in area, where she was seen conversing with some CISF officers. The CISF Commandant has acknowledged the incident and is currently questioning Constable Kaur. Additionally, one of Ms. Ranaut’s aides has notified the local police.
Upon landing in Delhi, Ms. Ranaut did not address the media. Earlier in the day, she had shared a photo on Instagram with the caption, “On my way to parliament. Mandi ki sansad.”
Ms. Ranaut’s Statement
In a video statement on social media platform X later that evening, Ms. Ranaut assured her followers of her safety but expressed concerns about rising terrorism in Punjab. She recounted the incident, stating:
“I am safe. I am perfectly fine. The incident happened at the security check-in. The woman guard waited for me to cross. She then came from the side and hit me. She started throwing expletives. I asked why she hit me. She said ‘I support farmers’. I am safe, but my concern is terrorism is rising in Punjab. How do we handle that?”
The CISF constable reportedly mentioned being upset over Ms. Ranaut’s past comments during the farmers’ protest. Specifically, she referred to a statement by Ms. Ranaut that implied farmers were participating in protests for a payment of ₹100. The constable mentioned her personal connection, stating, “She had given a statement that the farmers are sitting there for ₹100. Will she go and sit there? My mother was sitting there and protesting when she gave this statement.”
In December 2020, Ms. Ranaut had posted on social media, suggesting that an elderly woman present at the protests was “available for ₹100” to attend such events. This comment sparked significant outrage. Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the chief of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, had demanded an unconditional apology from Ms. Ranaut within a week. The post was eventually deleted by Ms. Ranaut.
Previous Incidents
During her election campaign, Ms. Ranaut faced resistance from farmers who blocked her convoy in Chandigarh while she was en route to Mandi. The situation was further inflamed by international attention when pop star Rihanna tweeted about the farmers’ protests, questioning why more people were not discussing the issue. Ms. Ranaut responded harshly, labeling the protesting farmers as terrorists and suggesting a conspiracy involving China. This tweet, too, was later deleted.
Government Response
In November 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the repeal of the three controversial farm laws, a decision that came after nearly 15 months of fierce protests by farmers. The farmers had voiced concerns that the new laws would eliminate the minimum support price (MSP) and lead to the corporatization of agriculture, potentially allowing large companies to impose unreasonably low prices on farmers.
The incident at Chandigarh airport adds another chapter to the ongoing and contentious narrative surrounding the farmers’ protests and the political and social reactions they have provoked.
