Watch: Kangana calls Kovind 'first Dalit president,' anchor corrects her
What's the story
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and actor Kangana Ranaut has apologized for mistakenly referring to former President Ram Nath Kovind as India's "first Dalit president." During an interview with The Lallantop on Thursday, the Mandi MP was asked if injustice and assault are reported more often in cases involving minority and backward classes. In response, she gave examples of Dalit presidents, including Kovind, whom she referred to as the "first Dalit president."
Apology
Ranaut's apology and social media backlash
The show's anchor promptly corrected her, clarifying that Kovind was actually the second Dalit president after KR Narayanan. Ranaut immediately acknowledged her error and apologized, saying, "Sorry for my misinformation." However, this did not prevent a clip from the interview from going viral on social media platforms. Many users criticized the actor for her mistake. One user posted the video with a caption suggesting that Ranaut has "the lowest IQ Indian MP in the history of Indian Politics."
Twitter Post
Video clip from the interview
▪️पहले दलित राष्ट्रपति : श्री के आर नारायणन जी
— Sonu Malik Ramkali (@sonu_ramkali) August 30, 2024
▪️दूसरे दलित राष्ट्रपति : श्री रामनाथ कोविन्द जी
यह ‘राम कोविड’ जी की जानकारी नहीं थी
आज सांसद महोदया के सौजन्य से मिली 🙏#KanganaRanaut#KanganaRanawat pic.twitter.com/rKYQmY6tIE
Controversy
Ranaut's controversial comments on farmers' protest
Ranaut is already in the spotlight for controversial remarks on the farmers' protest in another interview. In the interview with Dainik Bhaskar, she suggested that a "Bangladesh-like situation" could have erupted in India if not for strong leadership. She also claimed that "bodies were hanging and rapes were taking place" during the protests against the now-repealed three farm laws.
Party response
BJP's response to Ranaut's comments on farmers' protest
The BJP swiftly denounced Ranaut's remarks about the farmers' protest, stating that she was neither permitted nor authorized to comment on party policy matters. According to reports, she was summoned by BJP chief JP Nadda at his residence in Delhi on Thursday morning. Sources in the party said the meeting lasted around 30 minutes, and she was advised to be cautious about what she said in public when promoting her new film Emergency.