Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut has been urged by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union minister Som Parkash to desist from making “unnecessary comments” on extremist Sikh preacher Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale that would offend the Sikh community.
Parkash pleaded with the controversial actor to uphold “discipline” and refrain from upsetting the calm in Punjab in a post on X and stated, “Kangana Ranaut must restrain from making unnecessary comments against Sant Jarnail Singh and the Sikh community. Such remarks hurt the feelings of the Sikh community. She must remain in discipline. Nobody should be allowed to disturb peace in Punjab.”
The BJP MP Ranaut has been promoting Emergency, her next movie in which she plays the role of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Ranaut called Bhindranwale, a contentious character in Punjabi history, a “terrorist,” in the News 18 interview.
“He was not a saint but a terrorist. This is part of our history that has been deliberately hidden. We are not told about this,” Ranaut said in that interview.
There have been obstacles in the way of Kangana Ranaut’s film Emergency’s release. The actor revealed that the postponement of the movie put a strain on her finances, forcing her to sell her Mumbai property. The film, which was initially scheduled for release on September 6, is still pending certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which has postponed its approval.
Sikh groups have taken offense at Ranaut’s remarks. Among them is the Shiromani Akali Dal, which claims that Ranaut’s movie distorts Sikh history and culture.