Politicians across party lines are demanding that actress Kangana Ranaut's Padma Shri be withdrawn in the wake of her controversial remarks on India's Independence. Speaking at a media conclave, Kangana said that India got 'true independence' in 2014, adding that the 1947 independence was 'bheek' [alms or charity].
Tagging President Ram Nath Kovind in a tweet, Congress leader Anand Sharma demanded that her Padma award be withdrawn immediately.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,” he said. Calling her comments 'outrageous', Sharma said Ranaut had insulted the nation's courageous freedom fighters. “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," he said in a series of tweets.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi should break his silence and tell the nation if he endorses the views of Ranaut. If not, the government should take appropriate legal action against such people," he added.
NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik also condemned the actress's remarks and called for her arrest. "We strongly condemn actress Kangana Ranaut's statement that India got freedom in 2014. She insulted freedom fighters. The Centre must take back the Padma Shri from Kangana and arrest her," he said.
On Thursday, former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi also urged the president to take back the Padma award from Ranaut. Manjhi tweeted, "The Padma Shri conferred upon Kangana Ranaut should be withdrawn forthwith. Else the world will think that Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Bhagat Singh, Kalam, Mukherjee, Savarkarall had begged to get freedom."
Criticism came from within the BJP too—MP Varun Gandhi lashed out at Ranaut's statement. "Sometimes an insult to Mahatma Gandhi's sacrifice and penance, sometimes respect to his (Mahatma Gandhi's) killer, and now an insult to the sacrifices of lakhs of freedom fighters -- from Shaheed Mangal Pandey to Rani Laxmibai, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and more. Should I call this madness or treason?" Gandhi tweeted.
The Aam Aadmi Party has submitted an application to the Mumbai Police, demanding that a case be registered against Ranaut. AAP's national executive member Preeti Sharma Menon termed her remarks as "seditious and inflammatory".
Ranaut was awarded the Padma Shri on Monday. She had said that the award is a reply to all those who question her statements on national issues.