Bollywood actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has stirred controversy once again by advocating for the reinstatement of the three farm laws that were repealed after large-scale farmer protests. Speaking ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections, Ranaut expressed her belief that the laws would benefit farmers and urged them to demand their return. “Farmers are a pillar of strength in the nation’s development, and the three farm laws should be brought back for their own good,” she said during her visit to Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.
Ranaut’s comments immediately drew sharp criticism from the opposition, particularly the Congress party, which accused the BJP of using her as a “proxy” to test the waters on reviving the highly controversial legislation. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate condemned her remarks, emphasizing that over 750 farmers lost their lives during the protests against these “black laws.” She vowed that Congress would never allow the laws to be reintroduced, warning that Haryana, a state heavily affected by the previous protests, would respond strongly.
Punjab Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa also weighed in, calling Ranaut’s comments a calculated move by the BJP to reintroduce the farm laws. He urged the BJP to clarify its stance on the matter, demanding action against Ranaut if her views do not represent the party’s position. He criticized her involvement in politics, suggesting she should focus on her acting career instead of interfering with farmers’ issues.
The farm laws, first introduced in 2020, aimed to deregulate the agricultural sector by allowing farmers to sell their produce outside government-regulated markets, contract with buyers directly, and remove stockpiling limits. While the government argued these reforms would benefit farmers, many feared corporate exploitation and a loss of guaranteed minimum support prices (MSP). After over a year of intense protests, primarily from farmers in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh, the Modi government repealed the laws in November 2021, citing the inability to build consensus with the farming community.
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Ranaut’s latest statement has reignited the debate on farm laws just before the Haryana elections, a state where the issue holds considerable weight.
