New Delhi: In a shocking incident, newly elected Member of Parliament and acclaimed actor Kangana Ranaut was allegedly slapped by a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) constable at Chandigarh Airport. The incident reportedly occurred at the security check-in area as Ranaut was preparing to board a flight to Delhi. The constable, identified as Kulwinder Kaur, allegedly struck Ranaut over comments perceived as disrespectful towards farmers.
The confrontation took place when Ms. Ranaut, who recently won the Lok Sabha election from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi constituency, was on her way to attend a parliamentary session. Mobile footage captured the actor-turned-MP being escorted by a ring of security officers, engaging in a conversation with CISF personnel moments before the altercation.
Witnesses claim that after slapping Ms. Ranaut, Constable Kaur expressed her support for farmers, referencing the prolonged protests against the farm laws that were scrapped last year. During these protests, Ms. Ranaut had made several controversial statements, including a tweet in February 2021 where she referred to the protesting farmers as “terrorists” attempting to divide India. The tweet was a response to international pop star Rihanna’s post highlighting the farmers’ plight. Ms. Ranaut later deleted her tweet amid widespread backlash.
Following the incident at the airport, the CISF Commandant initiated an inquiry into the constable’s actions. Sources indicate that one of Ms. Ranaut’s aides has also reported the incident to the local police. Despite the incident, Ms. Ranaut did not engage with reporters upon her arrival in Delhi. Instead, she later addressed the issue through a video statement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), expressing her concern about rising terrorism in Punjab.
“I am safe and perfectly fine,” Ms. Ranaut stated. “The incident happened at the security check-in. The woman guard waited for me to pass, then came from the side and hit me. She started throwing expletives. When I asked why, she said ‘I support farmers’. My concern is about rising terrorism in Punjab. How do we handle that?”
The attack on Ms. Ranaut follows closely on the heels of her recent electoral victory. She triumphed over her Congress rival Vikramaditya Singh in the Mandi constituency, securing her position in the Lok Sabha. Ms. Ranaut celebrated her victory by posting, “Mandi ki sansad” on social media, expressing pride in representing her constituency.
Kangana Ranaut, known for her roles in critically acclaimed films like ‘Queen’, ‘Tanu Weds Manu’, and ‘Manikarnika’, has been an outspoken supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his policies. She has publicly backed the government’s stance on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the farm laws, which has often placed her at the center of political and social controversies.
The farmers’ protests, which lasted nearly 15 months, were marked by widespread opposition to the new farm laws, with farmers fearing the elimination of Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the corporatization of agriculture. Prime Minister Modi eventually announced the withdrawal of these laws in November 2021, acknowledging the farmers’ concerns.
As the investigation into the airport incident continues, it highlights the volatile intersection of celebrity, politics, and public sentiment in India. The actions of the CISF constable and the response from Ms. Ranaut serve as a reminder of the deep-rooted tensions and divisions that continue to shape the nation’s socio-political landscape.
