Kangana Ranaut gheraoed, let off after apology

Farmers today protested actor Kangana Ranaut’s “objectionable” statements against anti-farm laws agitators and gheraoed her at Bunga Sahib on Ropar-Manali road today.

Members of the Kisan Mazdoor Union (KMU) were reportedly following her from Bilaspur. When she reached Bunga Sahib around 2.30 pm, protesters, including a large number of women, sat in front of her car. Soon a heavy police force reached the spot and tried to pacify the protesters. In videos uploaded on her Instagram, the actor said she would have been lynched, if it weren’t for her security personnel.

Alleging the actor had used derogatory language against agitating farmers, especially women, KMU president Sethi Sharma said they would not allow her to go until she tendered an apology.

A few months ago, Kangana allegedly called protesters names and tweeted a photo of an elderly woman participating in the rally and mistook her for the one famous for Shaheen Bagh protests. She went on to claim she was “available for Rs 100” to protest. She, however, deleted the tweet later on.

After an hour, she agreed to meet protesters. She reportedly hugged women protesters and apologised, clarifying she never said anything derogatory against them. Protesters relented and she left the spot. The actor thanked the Punjab Police for taking her out safely and informed her followers that she was safe. SSP Vivek Sheel Soni said the district police had no prior information about her visit. — TNS