Kangana Ranaut booked over controversial tweet against farmers' agitation
An FIR has been filed against Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut for her controversial opinion on the Farmers' agitation, which was sparked after the Centre introduced three farm Bills. This development came after a court in Karnataka ordered the local Kyatasandra police station to book her. An advocate named L Ramesh Naik had approached the Tumkuru court against the 33-year-old star. Here's what went down.
What were the protests about?
Last month, the Centre introduced three farm Bills, saying it will give farmers new-found freedom. But they felt let down, alleging that the new laws would make them dependent on big private players. In a bid to allay their concerns, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said they shouldn't be swayed by those having vested interests. His words hardly had an impact as protests continued.
As protests raged, Kangana gave her opinion, irked many
On September 20, quoting a tweet by PM Modi, Kangana wrote on Twitter, "If anyone's sleeping, they can be woken up, if someone doesn't understand, they can be explained, but what can be done when someone is acting to be asleep or doesn't want to understand?" Referring to anti-CAA protests, she said no one lost their citizenship but blood was spilled, nevertheless.
You can read her tweet here
Kangana was slammed for using the word "terrorist"
Quite unsurprisingly, the tweet didn't go down well with netizens; they slammed her for referring to the agitating farmers as 'terrorists.' However, on September 21, Kangana said that some people can "fight only on the basis of rumors" and challenged them to prove that she had called the farmers "terrorists." If declared guilty, she said, she would quit Twitter forever.
Where did I call farmers as terrorists, asked Kangana
Kangana also slammed TOI for spreading misinformation
Kangana's dare, notwithstanding, Naik felt offended. He expressed displeasure at one post wherein the actor had slammed The Times Of India for misinterpreting her words. "People who spread misinformation and rumors about CAA that caused riots are the same people who are now spreading misinformation about Farmers bill and causing terror in the nation, they are terrorists, (sic)" Kangana wrote on September 21.
"You know what I said"
Approached court to tell Kangana her actions were wrong: Lawyer
Referring to the September 21 tweet, Naik went to court, claiming that he wasn't hungry for publicity. "When farmers take to the streets to protest against any government policy, they are not necessarily terrorists, as she thinks. I have joined many such protests, am I a terrorist? I need clarification on this and therefore I am fighting this case," he said.
After court gave directions, Kangana was booked
Naik's appeal found takers in the court and local police was asked to register an FIR. She was booked under IPC Sections 44 (Injury), 108 (Abettor), 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153(A) (Promoting enmity between different groups), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace). An investigation has started, reports Bar&Bench.
