BJP MP and actress Kangana Ranaut reignited controversy by advocating for the return of the three repealed farm laws, claiming they were beneficial for farmers. Speaking to reporters in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, Ranaut stated, "I know this may be controversial, but the three farm laws should be brought back. Farmers should demand it themselves."
Ranaut argued that the laws, aimed at agricultural reform, were in the farmers' best interest but were repealed due to protests in certain states. She urged farmers to reconsider their stance, calling them "pillars of the nation's development."
Her remarks drew sharp criticism, with Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate vowing to prevent the return of the laws, citing the deaths of over 750 farmers during the protests. AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang also criticized Ranaut, questioning whether her stance challenged Prime Minister Modi's decision to repeal the laws.
Ranaut has previously been outspoken against the farmer protests, even sparking public disputes, including one with Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh. Her latest comments have once again stirred political tension as Haryana's assembly elections approach.
The farm laws, initially passed in 2020, sought to deregulate agricultural markets by allowing farmers to sell outside government-run mandis and enter contracts with private buyers. However, farmers feared the reforms would lead to corporate exploitation and erode the minimum support price (MSP) system, resulting in large-scale protests, primarily in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. After more than a year of protests, the government repealed the laws in November 2021, citing a lack of consensus with the farmers.