New Delhi, March 18 – The political controversy sparked by BJP MP Kangana Ranaut's remarks about Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi intensified on Wednesday, with several Congress leaders criticizing the actor-turned-politician and accusing her of making comments to maintain her political relevance.
Punjab Congress President Amrinder Singh Raja Warring criticised Ranaut's statement, stating that Gandhi's presence in Parliament should not be compared to the glamour world.
"How can she say that he behaves like a thug? Rahul Gandhi is not here to make a film. She might think that Parliament is some kind of studio where one has to dress well and behave appropriately," Warring said.
He alleged that Ranaut repeatedly targets Gandhi because she believes the BJP has sidelined her. "She keeps talking about Rahul again and again because she feels that the BJP has forgotten her, and that she is no longer useful. She thinks that if she says something about Rahul, she might stay relevant," he said.
Taking a dig at her acting career, Warring added: "Now even her shop in Bollywood is closed, and it is also closed here. So, just to keep her shop running, she keeps making remarks about Rahul."
Congress MP Jothimani also criticised Ranaut, saying that being a celebrity or dressing well does not make someone a good person. "This shows Kangana Ranaut's character. Just because somebody is nicely dressed or is a celebrity does not make them a good person. This is the level of politics she is doing, so actually she does not have any status to talk about Rahul Gandhi," she said.
Congress MLA Aslam Sheikh also reacted strongly to the BJP MP's comments, suggesting that Ranaut should look at her own past before criticising others.
"Kangana should also know about herself; no need to go too far back. You can find out from Google what she used to do earlier and what her habits were," Sheikh said.
He further took a swipe at the BJP for giving her a party ticket. "When giving a party ticket, information is taken about how a person has worked and served. I would applaud the BJP for promoting Kangana after watching her old videos. What else can you expect from them? Such statements will continue to come," he added.
These responses came hours after Ranaut launched a sharp attack on Rahul Gandhi, alleging that his behaviour in Parliament makes women uncomfortable and comparing it unfavourably with that of his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
The BJP MP had claimed that Gandhi behaves in a "tapori-like" manner in the Parliament complex and said he should learn etiquette from his sister.