Kangana calls for reinstating farm laws, farmers call it publicity stunt

Ranaut was the chief guest on the final day of the fair called Keyod Mela.

Ranaut also compared the three farm laws to the proposed simultaneous polls. “Farmers are an important pillar of our country. Just as the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative would benefit bureaucrats and government employees, who often have to go on election duties, farmers too should demand the return of the three farm laws, which were opposed only by a few states. I urge them with folded hands to ask for the reinstatement of these laws,” she said.

Reacting to Ranaut’s comments, farmer union leaders have criticised her, calling it a ‘tactic’ to remain in the spotlight. Meanwhile, the AAP and Congress have strongly condemned her remarks.

Himachal Pradesh BJP chief spokesperson Karan Nanda said, “The statement of MP Kangana Ranaut on the three repealed farm  laws is her personal view… In fact, earlier the BJP had made it clear that any statement of the MP related to the three farm laws will be her personal opinion.”

Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar said, “Farmers should let her be. Her words help the farmers’ cause more than their own efforts.”

Dr Darshan Pal, national coordination committee member of Samyukta Kisan Morcha, said, “Kangana is trying to provoke the farmers. I think she is just trying to gain undue attention as her movie is set to release this week. She has no idea about the farmers’ struggle during this protest, nor does she understand the side effects of the three contentious and now-repealed farm laws. Hence, she keeps issuing statements. It seems she just wants to stay in controversy. However, now that she is an MP representing the ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party needs to explain her behaviour.”

Jagmohan Singh Dakaunda, general secretary of BKU Dakaunda and national coordination committee member of SKM, added, “The agriculture minister of India must explain her statement. What can we say to her? Had she known a little about agriculture, she wouldn’t have made such comments. She has once again targeted farmers of Punjab and Haryana, provoking us. When the Prime Minister himself repealed the farm laws, who is she to say they need to be implemented again? Just as we don’t comment on her acting or the film industry, she should remain silent on agriculture as she is not an expert.” He added, “The union agriculture minister and the Prime Minister should provide an explanation for her baseless statement.”

Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said, “The BJP-led Union Government has employed Bollywood actor and Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut as a mouthpiece to advocate for the restoration of the contentious farm legislations. BJP is using Ranaut as a proxy to further its anti-farmer agenda, and I call for immediate clarification from the government.

“If the BJP government at the Centre does not back the statements made by its Mandi MP, it must take decisive action against her. Kangana Ranaut has consistently targeted the farming community, while the BJP remains a silent spectator. This is no coincidence—it’s a carefully scripted strategy. The BJP is launching a veiled assault on the farmers through her rhetoric,” Bajwa remarked.

Malwinder Singh Kang, chief spokesperson of AAP and MP from Anandpur Sahib, said, “Aam Aadmi Party strongly condemns the statement by Mandi MP and Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut, in which she once again targeted the farmers of Punjab. However, I pity Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who himself repealed the three farm laws and expressed regret for not understanding the farmers’ sentiments. Yet, this newly elected BJP MP is mocking the Prime Minister’s statements, let alone anyone else’s. It seems the BJP is repeatedly using her as a tool. My question to the Prime Minister is: When will he act tough on this MP, or will he continue to stay silent like his party colleagues? AAP strongly condemns this behaviour by Ranaut and urges the BJP to clarify the agenda behind such statements.”

In November 2021, the Union government had to repeal the three farm bills it passed in September 2020: the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020.