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Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘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.
Mint
2 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Sharmistha Panoli row: Kangana Ranaut urges West Bengal govt not to become 'North Korea', Pawan Kalyan condemns arrest
A day after Instagram influencer Sharmistha Panoli was arrested from Gurugram by Kolkata Police, BJP MP and Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has condemned the move, urging the West Bengal government not to try to make the state into North Korea. Speaking to the media on Panoli's arrest, Ranaut stated that harassing someone in the name of law and order is not good, as everyone has democratic rights. Ranaut said, as quoted by ANI, '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. This should not happen with any daughter. 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. She should be released soon because she is a very young woman. She has her whole career and life ahead of her...' Not only Kangana, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and actor Pawan Kalyan too came in support of Panoli and condemned her arrest by Kolkata police over an allegedly communal video. According to him, 'secularism must be a two-way street'. He said that while "blasphemy must be condemned," secularism should not be wielded as a 'shield'. Kalyan took to X and wrote, 'During Operation Sindoor, Sharmista, a law student, spoke out, her words regrettable and hurtful to some. She owned her mistake, deleted the video and apologised. The WB Police swiftly acted, taking action against Sharmistha. But what about the deep, searing pain inflicted upon millions when elected leaders, MPs of TMC, mock Sanatana Dharma? Where is the outrage when our faith is called 'Gandha Dharm'? Where is their apology? Where is their swift arrest?' The actor-turned-politician further said, 'Blasphemy must be condemned, always! Secularism isn't a shield for some and a sword for others. It must be a two-way street. West Bengal Police, the nation is watching. Act justly for all. #IstandwithSharmistha. #EqualJustice'
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First Post
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Kangana Ranaut: 'Aditya Chopra said I was finished when I said no to Salman Khan's Sultan, he messaged me...'
The Queen actress once revealed in an interview how producer Aditya Chopra reacted when she said no to the part. read more Kangana Ranaut and Mrunal Thakur were the first choices for Anushka Sharma's role in Sultan. The Queen actress once revealed in an interview how producer Aditya Chopra reacted when she said no to the part. 'The director came to my house and narrated the script. I had a meeting with Aditya Chopra… just so that I could express my apologies in person and he was fine at the time. But later a news piece came out saying 'Kangana said No to Sultan'. And then he messaged me, 'How dare you'! You say No to me'. And then he told me, 'You are finished,' said Kangana. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Kangana Ranaut is set to make her Hollywood debut with a horror film, titled 'Blessed Be the Evil'. Ranaut, known for films like 'Tanu Weds Manu', 'Fashion', 'Queen' and 'Thalaivii', will star alongside Scarlet Rose Stallone, daughter of action superstar Sylvester Stallone, and 'Teen Wolf' actor Tyler Posey, according to the entertainment news outlet Variety. The film will be directed by Anurag Rudra from a screenplay by Gatha Tiwary. Both will also produce the upcoming project. Described as a horror drama, the production on the film is expected to begin this summer in New York. The producers are also planning to shoot the movie in the US in the wake of President Donald Trump's threat of a 100 percent tariff on imported films. Blessed Be the Evil follows a Christian couple who, after experiencing a devastating miscarriage, purchase an abandoned farm with a dark past. Their love and faith are soon tested by a malevolent presence, according to official synopsis. Ranaut, the BJP MP from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi, was most recently seen in Emergency, which she also directed. Released in January, the film featured Ranaut in the role of the late prime minister Indira Gandhi.
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘I regret…': Kangana Ranaut deletes controversial tweet on Trump after BJP chief's intervention
Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut deleted a provocative tweet targeting US President Donald Trump on Thursday after receiving a directive from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda. In the tweet, Ranaut, who is the Member of Parliament from Mandi, caustically responded to Trump's recent remarks opposing Apple's expansion in India. Ranaut, a vocal supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had in a now-deleted tweet speculated about Trump's alleged 'love loss' toward India, suggesting the US leader was jealous of Modi's global popularity. 'Is this jealousy or diplomatic insecurity?' she asked in the now-deleted tweet, which included a now-familiar Ranaut flourish: calling Modi the 'father of all alpha males' in Hindi. The tweet came in response to Trump's statement that he had asked Apple CEO Tim Cook not to manufacture in India unless the output served India's domestic market. Trump cited high tariffs and criticised Apple's India plans during a recent business leaders' event. Within hours, Ranaut issued a retraction, revealing in another post that she was asked to delete the tweet by BJP chief Nadda. 'I regret posting that very personal opinion of mine,' she wrote. 'As per instructions, I immediately deleted it from Instagram as well.' Respected national president Shri @JPNadda ji called and asked me to delete the tweet I had posted regarding Trump asking Apple CEO Tim Cook not to manufacture in India. I regret posting that very personal opinion of mine, as per instructions I immediately deleted it from… — Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) May 15, 2025 Critics such as YouTuber and political commentator Dhruv Rathee were quick to add to the conversation. 'Why do you think he asked you to do that?' he posted, tagging Ranaut. 'Is your party BJP afraid of Donald Trump?' Why do you think he asked you to do that? Is your party BJP afraid of Donald Trump? — Dhruv Rathee (@dhruv_rathee) May 15, 2025 Ranaut's tweet and its abrupt deletion hint at the delicacy of India's balancing act: projecting strength at home while preserving strategic partnerships abroad. After a meeting between business leaders from the US and Qatar, Trump said, 'I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. I said, 'Tim you're my friend, I've treated you very good, you're coming here (in the US) with a $500 billion announcement, and now I hear you're building all over India. I don't want you building in India. You can build in India if you want to take care of India, because India is one of the highest tariff nations in the world'… 'we put up with all the plants you built in China for years. We are not interested in you building in India. India can take care of themselves'.' A senior official said that Apple has communicated to the Indian government that there were no changes in its investment plans in the country, which it sees as a crucial geography for expanding its manufacturing footprint. Trump's comments come at a time when Cook has confirmed that owing to China-related trade uncertainties, the company will produce a majority of iPhones sold in the US in India in the June quarter. Apple wants to move a quarter of all iPhone production to India in the next few years, in a gradual move away from China, which has so far been the key epicentre of the company's manufacturing prowess.
Scroll.in
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scroll.in
Kangana Ranaut deletes social media post on instructions from BJP
Actor and Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut on Thursday said that Bharatiya Janata Party National President JP Nadda had asked her to delete her social media post about United States President Donald Trump asking Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook not to expand manufacturing in India. 'I regret posting that very personal opinion of mine, as per instructions I immediately deleted it from Instagram as well,' said Ranaut. Respected national president Shri @JPNadda ji called and asked me to delete the tweet I had posted regarding Trump asking Apple CEO Tim Cook not to manufacture in India. I regret posting that very personal opinion of mine, as per instructions I immediately deleted it from… — Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) May 15, 2025 In the post on X earlier in the day, Ranaut had asked what could be the reason behind Trump's direction to Cook and listed three points comparing the US president with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This came after Trump, at an event in Qatar, said he had told Cook that 'India can take care of themselves, they are doing very well'. He also claimed that Apple would be 'upping their production' in the US because of his talks with Cook. The statement came in light of attempts by Apple to diversify its manufacturing beyond China, where it makes most of its iPhones, amid tariffs and geopolitical concerns, The Economic Times reported. The company does not manufacture its smartphones in the US. It plans to source the majority of its US iPhone supply from India by the end of next year to reduce its dependence on China. This is not the first time that Ranaut has expressed regret for her personal opinion on social media since being elected as the Mandi MP in June 2024. In September, the BJP said that it had disapproved of remarks made by Ranaut, who called for the reinstatement of the farm laws that the Union government had repealed in 2021 after nationwide protests. 'I understand it may become controversial, but I think these farmer-welfare-oriented laws should return,' she said on September 23. 'Farmers should demand these laws themselves. Just as farmers in other regions are benefiting, there should be no obstacles to their development.' A day later, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said that Ranaut's remarks were her 'personal statements'. The Mandi MP was not 'authorised to make such a statement on behalf of BJP and it doesn't depict BJP's view on the farm bills', Bhatia added. The Hindutva party had on August 26 also said that it had neither permitted nor authorised Ranaut to make statements on policy issues on its behalf. The BJP's clarification came after Ranaut claimed that the farmers' protests could have led to 'Bangladesh-like anarchy' in India.
