Kangana Ranaut's 'bheek' remark courts controversy; opposition seeks withdrawal of Padma Shri
Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut's remarks have yet again snowballed into controversy. In a statement issued recently, she said, "India won true independence in 2014 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power, and the 1947 Independence was 'bheekh' or charity".
Kangana Ranaut's remarks have not gone down well with people from various walks of life, with opposition parties now seeking the withdrawal of Padma Shri conferred upon her earlier this week. There have been demands from various quarters that actor Kangana Ranaut should be charged with sedition.
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"The Padma Award given to Ms. Ranaut should be withdrawn immediately. Before giving such awards, mental psychological evaluation should be done so that in future such persons do not disrespect the nation and its heroes," Congress Anand Sharma said on Twitter, while tagging President Ram Nath Kovind.
"Kangana Ranaut's statement heaping insult on the courageous freedom fighters led by Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru and Sardar Patel but also belittling the sacrifices of revolutionaries like Sardar Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekar Azad and several others," Anand Sharma said in a series of tweets.
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Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda called her "bheek" remarks "callous".
The actor has always been vocal about her support for the BJP. On November 11, her "bheek" remarks were criticised by BJP MP Varun Gandhi.
"Insulting the sacrifice of Mahatma Gandhi sometimes, praising his killer (Nathuram Godse) sometimes, and now the disdain for the sacrifices of Mangal Pandey, Rani Laxmibai, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and lakhs of freedom fighters. Should I call this thinking madness or treason?" - Varun Gandhi tweeted.
Maharashtra Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik has also demanded that the Centre must withdraw the Padma Shri award from Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut. "Looks like Kangana Ranaut took a heavy dose of Malana Cream before making such a statement," said Nawab Malik.
-PTC News
