‘Dont turn Bengal into North Korea': Kangana Ranaut slams TMC over influencer's arrest
Amid the escalating political row over the arrest of 22-year-old law student and influencer Sharmistha Panoli, actor-politician Kangana Ranaut has strongly criticised the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government. Urging Panoli's immediate release, Ranaut condemned her arrest as an act of political overreach.
'Harassing someone in the name of law and order is not good. When someone has apologised and deleted the post, but putting her in prison, torturing her, ending her career and raising questions on her character is very wrong,' Ranaut told reporters.
In a pointed comparison, Ranaut said, 'I urge the West Bengal government not to try to make the state into North Korea. Everyone has democratic rights. She has apologised for her indecent remarks. She had said everything in general and today's generation uses such language very normally- both in English and in Hindi.'
Ranaut also urged for her early release saying 'she is a very young woman' who has her whole career and life ahead of her.
Panoli was arrested by Kolkata Police on Friday for a now-deleted social media video, in which she allegedly made communal remarks while criticising Bollywood celebrities' silence over 'Operation Sindoor'. The post triggered widespread backlash online, forcing Panoli to delete it and issue a public apology.
NDA ally and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also condemned the influencer's arrest. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he questioned the selective outrage and accused the West Bengal government of hypocrisy.
Kalyan wrote a post on X condemning her arrest saying, 'secularism must be a two-way street, not a shield for some and a sword for others.'
BJP's Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari echoed similar sentiments. 'When TMC MP Mahua Moitra made disgraceful remarks against Goddess Kali, was any action taken? Even after 200 FIRs? Sayani Ghosh posted about Maha Dev, and there were no consequences,' Adhikari alleged.
Panoli has been remanded to judicial custody until June 13. Her arrest has sparked fierce debate about freedom of expression, selective law enforcement, and communal politics. While social media platforms were flooded with calls for justice, Panoli also faced a wave of threats and trolling, prompting her to remove the post and publicly apologise.
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