Bhagwant Mann, the chief minister of Punjab, stated on Monday that the CISF female constable, who is accused of striking actor Kangana Ranaut, may have been enraged by the BJP MP-elect’s earlier remarks regarding the farmers’ protest. Mann was also irritated with Kangana for her comments regarding “terrorism”. He did, however, assert that this incident was avoidable.
It was the Punjab chief minister’s initial response to Kangana’s alleged slapping at the Chandigarh airport last week by CISF woman constable Kulwinder Kaur. Kaur didn’t agree with Kangana’s position on the farmers’ protests. In response to a query regarding the slapping incident, Mann stated, “You know, that was fury. This was how Kangana had previously spoken. That woman, the CIZF constable, harbored anger somewhere. The incident shouldn’t have occurred.
In an obvious reference to Kangana, Mann said whether one is a film actor or an MP, it is wrong to say that the entire Punjab is a terrorist state and there is terrorism in the state. He recalled the contribution of Punjab to the country’s freedom struggle and also said it feeds the nation. “On every issue, you say that they are terrorists and separatists. If farmers hold protests, they are called terrorists. It is wrong,” said Mann.
The ugly altercation started two days after Kangana was elected to the Lok Sabha from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. She claimed in a video message sent out hours after the incident last week that she was struck in the face and mistreated by the constable while going through security at the Chandigarh airport.
In the statement titled “Shocking rise in terror and violence in Punjab” posted on X after she landed in Delhi following the incident on Thursday, Ranaut said she was safe and fine. The constable, Ranaut had said, came towards her from the side.
“She hit me in the face and started abusing me. I asked her why she did it and she said she supports the farmer protests. I am safe but my concern is that terrorism and extremism are increasing in Punjab… How do we handle that?” Ranaut had said.
Kaur’s brother Sher Singh Mahiwal is an organising secretary of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee in Kapurthala. The Mohali Police has booked Kaur under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint). Both are bailable offenses.