'Modi clarify…': Rahul amid row over Kangana's farm laws remarks
25 Sep 2024
Following Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kangana Ranaut's call for reinstating the repealed farm laws, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clarify his government's position on the matter.
Gandhi, in a video message posted on X (formerly Twitter), questioned the government's stance on the farm laws repealed in 2021.
He said, "Is the government against these laws or not?"
Gandhi questions government policy decision-making
Policy query
Gandhi's post read, "BJP keep testing ideas. They tell someone to present an idea to the public and then observe the reaction. This is exactly what happened when one of their MPs talked about reviving the farmer laws, which were black laws."
He further asked, "Who is deciding the government's policy? A BJP MP or Prime Minister Modi? Even after the martyrdom of more than 700 farmers...the BJP people are not satisfied."
Ranaut's controversial statement on farm laws
Statement controversy
The controversy was sparked by Ranaut, the MP from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi, who suggested that the three repealed farm reform laws should be reinstated.
"I know this statement could be controversial, but the three farm laws should be brought back. The farmers should themselves demand it," she had said.
However, following a political uproar over her remarks, she issued a public apology acknowledging that her opinions should reflect her party's stance and not just her personal views.
BJP distances itself from Ranaut's remarks
Party stance
The BJP has distanced itself from Ranaut's remarks, with spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia stating that her comments are a "personal statement" and do not represent the party's position on the farm bills.
He clarified in a social media post that "Kangana Ranaut is not authorized to make such a statement on behalf of BJP and it doesn't depict BJP's view on the farm bills."
