The controversial comment by Kangana Ranaut that Independence won by India in 1947 was “bheek (alms)” and that the “real freedom” was attained in 2014, when the Narendra Modi government came to power, has raised hackles in Ahmedabad, as in the rest of the country.
Three Gandhi Ashram residents (Ashramvasis) have filed applications with the Ahmedabad city police commissioner and the Ranip police demanding filing of an FIR against the actress for seditious comments. Incidentally, Kangana made the statement just a day after receiving the Padma Shri award. On Friday, her statement raised a political storm with several Congress, AAP and NCP leaders demanding action against her. Delhi BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor was among those who flayed the Bollywood star’s statement in “personal capacity”.
Ashramvasis Dhimant Badiya, Shailesh Rathod and Hemant Chauhan said in their application that Kangana’s statement insulted Gandhiji and his followers who made huge sacrifices to attain Independence from the British.
Talking to Mirror, Shailesh Rathod (45), said, “Our forefathers had participated in the freedom struggle with Gandhiji and some had even sacrificed their lives. Kangana Ranaut’s statement is an insult not only to Gandhiji but also all the freedom fighters including our forefathers. If the FIR is not registered by the police, then we will approach the high court and the Supreme Court.”
The application demands that an FIR be registered against Kangana Ranaut under IPC section 124(a) (Sedition), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 505 (Statement conducing to public mischief).