Netizens, politicians and members of civil society have demanded pro-BJP actor Kangana Ranaut’s immediate arrest after the ‘half-educated’ starlet sensationally insulted India’s freedom fighters at a function organised hosted by Times Now’s Navika Kumar. Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik demanded the withdrawal of the Padma award that President Ram Nath Kovind conferred on her earlier this week. Fearing reprisals, Times Now issued two clarifications distancing itself from Kangana’s outrageous comments insulting freedom fighters.
Times Now first tweeted, “The question asked was about Savarkar, but the response was on a different matter. Navika Kumar then followed up with a question about whether Kangana was expressing her loyalty to the BJP, and Kangana responded by saying she’s a patriot. Here’s the complete viral sequence.”
However, contrary to claims made by Times Now, Navika had not challenged the controversial entertainer after she said India achieved its real independence in 2014 when Narendra Modi became the prime minister.
The question asked was about Savarkar, but the response was on a different matter. Navika Kumar then followed up with a question about whether Kangana was expressing her loyalty to the BJP, and Kangana responded by saying she's a patriot. Here's the complete viral sequence. pic.twitter.com/zXwgnRBLOb
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) November 11, 2021
Realising that this could backfire for the channel, Times Now posted a second tweet condemning Kangana’s comments outright. It tweeted, “#KanganaRanaut may think India got Independence in 2014 but this cannot be endorsed by any true Indian. This is an insult to millions of freedom fighters who gave up their lives so that present generations can live a life of self-respect & dignity as free citizens of a democracy.”
#KanganaRanaut may think India got Independence in 2014 but this cannot be endorsed by any true Indian. This is an insult to millions of freedom fighters who gave up their lives so that present generations can live a life of self-respect & dignity as free citizens of a democracy. pic.twitter.com/o0EtH0hukU
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) November 12, 2021
Times Now’s clarifications came after Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Preeti Sharma Menon filed a police complaint with the Mumbai Police against Kangana Ranaut. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik said that the controversial actor, notorious for spreading hate speech, was high on Malana cream. “She’s making such outrageous comments because she is high on Malana cream. I demand that the central government must immediately withdraw Kangana Ranaut’s Padma Shri and file a case to immediately arrest her for insulting the country’s freedom fighters,” Malik said.
Speaking at a programme hosted by Navika Kumar, Ranaut said that what India achieved on 15 August 1947 from the British rulers was a ‘bheek’ adding that the country became truly independent in 2014 when Narendra Modi became the prime minister.
She said, “Of course, that wasn’t freedom, that we bheek. We got freedom in 2014.”