New Delhi/IBNS: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jaiveer Shergill has said Kangana Ranaut's "consistent rant, useless, baseless, illogical statements" against the Sikh community is damaging the Modi government's developmental works in response to the Mandi MP's controversial "farm laws" remark.

Speaking to ANI, Jaiveer said, "I am grateful to the BJP for distancing themselves from the comments of Kangana Ranaut. But as a Punjabi, I must say that Kangana Ranaut's consistent rant, useless, baseless and illogical statements against the Sikh community, the farmers of Punjab are damaging all the good work, the welfare-oriented, the Vikas-oriented work being done by PM Modi for the welfare of Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat."

"Having said that there should not be any doubt that PM Modi's bond with Punjab, the farmer of Punjab and Punjabiyat is an unbreakable, unshakable bond and that bond should not be judged or seen through the lens of irresponsible comments being made by one MP Kangana Ranaut," he added.

What did Kangana Ranaut say?

Speaking to reporters in her Lok Sabha constituency of Mandi on Tuesday, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut said the laws, scrapped in November 2021, "should be brought back... (and) farmers themselves should demand it".

"I know this will be controversial... but I feel the farm laws that were repealed should be brought back. The farmers themselves should demand it. They are a pillar of strength for the nation's development and I want to appeal to them - demand the laws back for your own good," she said.

Reacting to the comment, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said, "It is Kangana Ranaut's personal statement. Neither Kangana Ranaut is authorised to speak on behalf of BJP, nor her remark represents the party's stand on farm laws. We reject the statement."

Kangana withdraws statement

After BJP's disapproval, Kangana posted a video on her X handle and said, "I have to keep in mind that I am not just an artiste but also a BJP worker. My opinions can't be personal but the party's stand. If my comments have disappointed anyone, I regret it. I withdraw my words."

Congress furious

A furious Congress tweeted a video of her statement and vowed: "these black laws will (never be brought back now)... no matter how hard Modi and his MPs try".

"More than 750 farmers were martyred... only then did the Modi government wake up and these black laws were withdrawn. Now BJP MPs are planning to bring them back... but Congress is with the farmers," party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate responded, pointing to next week's Haryana election.