Kulwinder Kaur, a security officer at Chandigarh airport, allegedly slapped newly elected BJP Lok Sabha MP Kangana Ranaut, reportedly provoked by Ranaut’s past remarks about the farmers’ protests.
The incident, which took place at the security check-in, has led to Kaur’s suspension and the initiation of a police case against her.
Incident at Airport:
According to reports, Kaur, a constable in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), waited for Ranaut to pass through the security check before confronting her.
Kaur allegedly slapped Kangana Ranaut and used expletives, stating her support for the farmers.
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Mobile footage that quickly went viral captured a verbal altercation between Kaur and Ranaut, though it did not show the slap itself.
Kaur’s Motivation:
Kaur, who comes from a family of farmers, cited Ranaut’s controversial comments made during the nationwide farmers’ protests against three contentious farm laws passed by the central government.
In a tweet posted in 2020, Ranaut had crudely suggested that elderly women at the protests were “available for ₹100.”
Ms Ranaut also made headlines in February 2021 after international pop star Rihanna seemed to criticise the BJP government over the farmers’ protest and said, “Why aren’t we talking about this?”
To this, Ms Ranaut had responded, “No one is talking about it because they are not farmers, they are terrorists who are trying to divide India, so that China can take over our vulnerable broken nation and make it a Chinese colony much like the USA… Sit down you fool, we are not selling our nation like you dummies.”
The tweet, which sparked widespread outrage, was later deleted by Ranaut.
Ranaut’s Reaction:
Following the incident, Ranaut, who was on her way to Delhi after winning the Mandi seat in Himachal Pradesh, expressed her concerns about rising terrorism in Punjab.
“The incident happened at the security check-in. The woman guard waited for me to cross. She then came and hit me… started throwing expletives. I asked (her) 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?” she said in her message.
Shocking rise in terror and violence in Punjab…. pic.twitter.com/7aefpp4blQ
— Kangana Ranaut (Modi Ka Parivar) (@KanganaTeam) June 6, 2024
Government Response:
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini confirmed that an inquiry is underway. “Action will be taken against the accused.
It is sad that a person involved in security is involved in this. Whatever happened was wrong,” Saini said.
Background of Farmers’ Protests:
The farmers’ protest, which began in 2020 and has continued since, has been a significant point of contention in India, affecting both domestic politics and international perceptions.
Ranaut has been a vocal critic of the protests, which has led to several confrontations with protesters.
In addition to her 2020 tweet, Ranaut made headlines in February 2021 by labeling the protesting farmers as “terrorists” in response to international pop star Rihanna’s criticism of the BJP government’s handling of the protests.
Political Implications:
The ongoing farmers’ protests have posed challenges for the BJP, potentially impacting key seats in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Ranaut’s continued involvement and outspoken remarks have kept her at the center of the controversy, reflecting the broader political and social divides in the country.
