Backed by BJP’s support, Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut on Friday trained guns at Congress’ interim president Sonia Gandhi and Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray.
The demolition at her office, Manikarnika Films Pvt Ltd, at her bungalow in Pali Hill at Bandra by the Shiv Sena-dominated BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for alleged irregularities have put the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in a embarrassing situation.
As Kangana kept switching targets between Congress and Shiv Sena, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP has distanced itself from the entire controversy.
While targeting Shiv Sena, Kangana, however, showered praises at the saffron party’s founder late Balasaheb Thackeray and described the charismatic and firebrand leaders as one of her icons.
“Great Balasaheb Thackeray one of my most favourite icons, his biggest fear was some day Shiv Sena will do “gutbandhan” and become Conress. I want to know what is his conscious feeling today looking at the condition of his party?” she said in an attack aimed at both Congress and Shiv Sena.
In a tweet directed at Gandhi, she said: “Dear respected honourable Congress president Sonia Gandhi ji, being a woman aren’t you anguished by the treatment I am given by your government in Maharashtra? Can you not request your Government to uphold the principles of the Constitution given to us by Dr. Ambedkar?.”
“You have grown up in the west and lived here in India. You may be aware of the struggles of women. History will judge your silence and indifference when your own Government is harassing women and ensuring a total mockery of law and order. I hope you will intervene,” she said.
On Kangana’s attack on Gandhi, state Congress general secretary and spokesperson Sachin Sawant said: “Origin matters! No surprise how BJP leaders can put their words in their mouths and use them for their vicious agenda!”
Making his party’s stand clear, Pawar, the chief architect of MVA, said: “The government has nothing to do with this. The BMC has taken action against her office. As per my information, BMC takes such action if rules and regulations are violated. The BMC explained that it is the corporation’s decision. The BMC is fully responsible for this.”
To Kangana’s charge the building where she lives in Khar belongs to Pawar and she bought the flat from his partner, the NCP supremo dismissed the charge. “I have no connection with the building,” he said.
Joining the issue, Maharashtra’s leader of opposition and ex-chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that Shiv Sena blew the issue out of proportion.
“Why was the whole issue given such importance. Kangana was not a national issue. You made it big. You (Shiv Sena) went and razed her office. Kangana's issue was blown out of proportion by you. She is not a political leader. You don't go to demolish Dawood's home but you demolished her place," Fadnavis said, adding: “They are concentrating more on Kangana than Corona.”
Supporting Kangana, BJP spokesperson Ram Kadam said: “Whether joining hands with ‘Hindu Hridaysamrat’ late Balasaheb Thackeray's sworn in enemies Congress and NCP or attacking a woman..this new Sena has done everything that chisels a blot on Balasaheb's glorious legacy.”
Kangana also said that she would continue to work from the office that has been ravaged by the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation. “I had my office opening on 15th Jan, shortly after corona hit us, like most of us I haven’t worked ever since, don’t have money to renovate it, I will work from those ruins keep that office ravaged as a symbol of a woman’s will that dared to rise in this world,” she declared.