Published on: June 07, 2024 03:57 IST
Newly elected MP and actor Kangana Ranaut was allegedly slapped by a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) constable, Kulwinder Kaur at Chandigarh Airport . The incident reportedly took place over accusations of “disrespecting farmers.” Ms. Ranaut, who recently won the Lok Sabha election from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi, was preparing to board a flight to Delhi when the altercation occurred.
Kulwinder Kaur, the CISF constable involved, has been suspended, and a first information report (FIR) has been filed against her. The constable allegedly confronted Ms. Ranaut at the security check-in, accusing her of disrespecting farmers during their 15-month-long protest against the now-repealed farm laws and the demand for a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP).
Mobile footage from the scene shows Ms. Ranaut being escorted by security officers while she engaged in a discussion with CISF personnel. Following the incident, the CISF Commandant has initiated an inquiry and is questioning the constable. Local police have also been informed by one of Ms. Ranaut’s aides.
Upon arriving in Delhi, Ms. Ranaut did not speak to reporters. Earlier in the day, she had posted a photo on Instagram captioned, “On my way to parliament. Mandi ki sansad.”
Later, in a video statement on X (formerly Twitter), Ms. Ranaut assured her followers that she was safe but expressed concerns about rising terrorism in Punjab. “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?” Ms. Ranaut stated.
The altercation appears to stem from a previous controversial comment by Ms. Ranaut during the farmers’ protest. The CISF constable claimed she was upset over Ms. Ranaut’s “Rs 100” statement, where the actor-turned-MP suggested that the elderly farmers were paid to protest. “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,” the constable said.
In December 2020, Ms. Ranaut had posted a comment on X suggesting that an elderly woman at the protest was “available for ₹ 100,” which drew widespread criticism. Following backlash, including a call for an unconditional apology by Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the chief of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, Ms. Ranaut deleted the post.
The farmers’ protest saw several high-profile interactions, including international pop star Rihanna’s tweet questioning the lack of attention to the protests, to which Ms. Ranaut had responded with a controversial remark, later deleted, accusing the protesters of being terrorists.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the withdrawal of the contentious farm laws in November 2021, following the sustained protests. The laws had raised concerns among farmers about the potential elimination of MSP and the corporatization of agriculture, which they feared would lead to exploitation by large companies.
The incident at Chandigarh Airport adds to the series of controversies surrounding Ms. Ranaut, highlighting the ongoing tensions related to the farmers’ protest and its aftermath.