Actor Kangana Ranaut, who recently won the Mandi Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket, was allegedly slapped by a woman constable of the CISF at the security area of Chandigarh airport.
Afterwards, the CISF constable, Kulwinder Kaur, suggested her actions were linked to a statement Ranaut had made about women joining the farmers’ protest.
AdvertisementThe CISF suspended the constable, initiated departmental inquiry, and lodged a police complaint against her.
#JUSTIN: Bollywood actor Kangna Ranaut who recently won the Mandi Lok Sabha seat, was allegedly slapped by a lady constable of CISF after frisking at the security hold area of the Mohali International Airport.1/2.
Sarwan Singh Pandher, coordinator of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, said, “Kangana had passed comments on elderly women, saying they were paid protesters.
Actor Kangana Ranaut, who recently won the Mandi Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket, was allegedly slapped by a woman constable of the CISF at the security area of Chandigarh airport.
Afterwards, the CISF constable, Kulwinder Kaur, suggested her actions were linked to a statement Ranaut had made about women joining the farmers’ protest. In a video, Kaur can be heard purportedly saying, “Isne bayaan diya tha na 100-100 rupye ke liye baithi hain vahan pe. Ye baithi thi vahan pe? Meri ma baithi thi vahan pe jab isne bayaan diya tha (She had given a statement that women have joined the farm protests for Rs 100. Was she there? My mother was sitting there).”
Her comments are ostensibly a reference to Ranaut’s tweet in 2020, wherein she claimed that an elderly woman, popularly known as Shaheen Bagh dadi, was also a part of the protest against the farm bills. “She is available in 100 rupees,” she wrote.
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The CISF suspended the constable, initiated departmental inquiry, and lodged a police complaint against her.
Ranaut, who was taking the 3 pm Vistara flight to New Delhi and was accompanied by members of her family, said she will file a complaint with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In a video later, she said, “First of all, I am safe, I am perfectly fine… As soon as I came out after the security check, a woman in another cabin, a CISF security staff, she waited for me to cross her and hit my face from the side. She started abusing me. When I asked her why, she said that she supports the farmers’ protest. I am safe but my concern is how we handle the terrorism and extremism that is increasing in Punjab.”
Kaur’s elder brother Sher Singh Mahiwal, organisational secretary of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KSMC), Kapurthala, said, “The matter needs to be investigated; what actually transpired between the two. One side of the picture is being shown.” KMSC is a union led by Sarwan Singh Pandher, a coordinator of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.
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“Kulwinder always wanted to stand on her feet, and in 2008-09, she joined the CISF. She got married in 2014, and her husband is also with the CISF. They have two children,” he said.
#JUSTIN: Bollywood actor Kangna Ranaut who recently won the Mandi Lok Sabha seat, was allegedly slapped by a lady constable of CISF after frisking at the security hold area of the Mohali International Airport.1/2. @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/BJnrHcTCRh — Mahender Singh Manral (@mahendermanral) June 6, 2024
Kaur’s mother Jaswinder Kaur has in the past participated in protests alongside her son.
Following the incident, former Himachal CM Jairam Thakur said, “It is very unfortunate. Nobody has the right to harm anyone. She was heading towards Delhi to attend a party meeting.”
The National Commission for Women called for “strict action” against Kaur “if allegations are confirmed”. The NCW chief also wrote to the CISF director general.
Himachal Pradesh PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh, who contested the Lok Sabha election against Ranaut from Mandi, said, “Stern action should be taken against the security personnel. This should not happen to anyone, particularly to a woman who is an elected member of parliament.”
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Former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah posted online, “There’s almost nothing Ms Ranaut says that I agree with but I don’t think there is any justification for physically assaulting her. Her views on the farmer protest were highly objectionable but they were her views and she’s entitled to them. Those celebrating this slap will also have to celebrate them when it’s the bhakts doing the slapping and the sensible people are on the receiving end.”
Farm unions were less sympathetic in their response. BKU (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) spokesperson Tejveer Singh said the incident was an “expression of anger”. Sarwan Singh Pandher, coordinator of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, said, “Kangana had passed comments on elderly women, saying they were paid protesters. However, even in light of her past comments, we don’t justify this incident.”
