Kangana's controversial clips: Kisan, Khalistan and Conspiracy-calculated agenda or emotional outbursts?....by KBS Sidhu

Kangana Ranaut's barbs against Punjab, Punjabis, the Sikhs, and farmers have been coming with monotonous regularity. It's time to explore the underlying causes.

New Delhi: Kangana Ranaut, the newly-elected BJP MP from Himachal Pradesh, has been in the limelight in recent months for her divisive and often derisive remarks targeting farmers, the Sikh community, and Punjab's identity.

Although the BJP spokespersons have regularly distanced their party from her outbursts, the lack of strong disciplinary action raises questions: are these remarks part of a larger political strategy, or are they just emotional outbursts from an MP struggling for relevance? These questions remain relevant notwithstanding her latest video expressing her regrets (खेद) and 'taking her words back’.

This article will briefly examine the pattern of Ms Ranaut's comments and their implications, while exploring whether these statements reflect, at least in part, the BJP's hidden agenda or are simply personal provocations of the lady MP.

Kisan Agitation: Discrediting Farmers and Fanning the Flames

One of Ms Ranaut’s most controversial episodes was her attack on the farmers' protests. By equating farmers with "Khalistanis" and ridiculing elderly Sikh women, who were actively participating in the agitation, she stoked nationwide outrage.

Despite these remarks, the BJP responded with silence, merely stating that these were her personal views. Yet, one must question: why has the BJP, a party known for enforcing discipline, allowed such inflammatory comments to go unchecked? Is there a calculated plan to polarise voters ahead of key elections?

Sikhs in Cinema: Distorting History in 'Emergency'

Ms Ranaut’s portrayal of the Sikh community in the film Emergency, which she has produced and in which she also plays the lead role, has come under fire. The film, intended as a critique of Mrs Indira Gandhi's imposition of the Emergency, subtly frames Sikhs as separatists and extremists, particularly in the lead-up to the infamous Operation Blue Star and the aftermath of the Congress-abetted anti-Sikh pogrom following Mrs Gandhi’s assassination by her Sikh bodyguards.

This narrative, unpopular with both the Sikh community and broader national audiences, suggests an underlying agenda to malign the community’s role in Indian history, which may be one of the reasons why the Censor Board has yet to clear the film, insisting on certain cuts.

Despite the Central Government indirectly stalling the film's release, one is compelled to ask: could this be an attempt to reframe history in line with a larger political script, where the hurt feelings of the Sikh populace are seen as nothing more than inevitable and unavoidable collateral damage?

The Repeal of Farm Laws: A Bizarre Resurrection

A couple of days ago, Kangana Ranaut advocated for the reinstatement or restoration of the three farm laws that were repealed following one of the most significant farmer protests—spearheaded by the farmers of Punjab, Haryana, and western UP—in Indian history.

Her insistence on these laws, despite their rejection by millions of farmers, further alienated the agrarian communities of Punjab and Haryana.

Her latest video "taking back her words" cannot, in my opinion, be seen as either an apology or a genuine expression of remorse, as the Hindi word 'khed' (खेद) signifies regret at best, and nothing more. While this quick retraction and damage control appear to have been made under instructions from the BJP high command, and although the party had already distanced itself from her statements earlier, the lack of any substantive disciplinary action against her suggests a half-hearted approach.

Is There a BJP Strategy Behind This?

Kangana Ranaut’s comments do appear to be entirely out of sync with a broader BJP strategy that may be in play:

1. Haryana Elections: Wooing Non-Jat Communities With the BJP struggling to win over Jats in Haryana, who led the Kisan protests, Kangana's anti-farmer rhetoric could be designed to attract votes from other communities¹. Has the BJP written off Jat support in the state, focusing instead on consolidating other sections of the society?
2. Testing Public Sentiment on Farm Laws Could Ms Ranaut’s statements be a calculated effort to reintroduce the controversial farm laws? By positioning a popular celebrity politician as the voice for farm reforms, the BJP may be testing the waters for a future attempt to reintroduce these laws in a modified form.
3. Sikh Alienation: A Dangerous Gamble Ms Ranaut’s portrayal of Sikhs in both her public statements and cinema, coupled with her callous remarks on the Kisan agitation, could be a dangerous signal. Are these moves part of a larger game plan to shift Punjab’s political dynamics—portraying Congress as the party that hurt and humiliated the Sikhs, while the BJP applies the much-needed soothing balm of empathy, even as both the BJP and the RSS continue to describe the Sikhs as "one of our own"? This could be a risky tactical or strategic move, especially given the region's sensitive history and the ever-present threat of Khalistani elements from abroad.
4. Raising Ranaut’s Profile: Future Ministerial Ambitions Could all this simply be an orchestrated build-up for Ranaut’s future political career? With her fiery rhetoric, she may be positioning herself as the next big star in the BJP, perhaps even preparing to take on a ministerial role.

A Pattern That Punjab Cannot Afford to Ignore

Punjab, with its strategic geography and socio-political significance, is more than just a small percentage of India’s landmass.

The repeated targeting of its identity and its farmers is not something that should be brushed off as mere outbursts. The Sikh community, having borne the brunt of political manipulation before, cannot afford to ignore these patterns.

Kangana Ranaut would do well to focus on issues closer to her constituency in Himachal Pradesh. Her reckless statements on matters involving Punjab, Sikhism, and farmers only serve to inflame divisions, rather than unite.

Conclusion: BJP Must Bolster its Stand

Whether these statements are part of a larger political game plan or not, the BJP's tolerance of such divisive rhetoric is deeply concerning.

While Kangana Ranaut’s recent expression of regret over the reinstatement of the farm laws may have mitigated some damage, particularly in Punjab and among the Sikh community, her insensitive remarks still require firmer handling. In a time when unity is paramount, especially in sensitive regions like Punjab, allowing an MP to stoke such fires without consequence sends the wrong message.

It is time for the BJP to rein in the irascible and mercurial Ranaut or risk alienating large sections of the population, particularly in Punjab and the agrarian heartlands.

The party can no longer afford to merely distance itself from her vitriolic comments; it must take a firm and unequivocal stand that reinforces its commitment to unity and respect for all communities.

While Prime Minister Modi’s genuine respect for Sikhism and the values of the Sikh Gurus is well known, this respect must now be reflected in concrete actions by the BJP’s leadership and disciplinary wing.

Failure to address these inflammatory remarks could deepen the alienation of key sections of the population. It is time for the BJP to harden its stance and make it clear that such irresponsible behaviour will not be tolerated.

One can be cautiously optimistic that, given Prime Minister Modi’s genuine love and respect for the Sikh religion, these remarks by Ms Ranaut will be her last. However, only time will tell.