Congress leader KS Alagiri on Thursday triggered controversy after saying that actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut “should be slapped” if she visited Tamil Nadu.“A few months ago, when she went to an airport, a lady police officer slapped her. The police officer gave a reason that wherever she goes, she abuses everyone. I told the agricultural workers that if she comes to our area, do what the police officer at the airport did. You should do the same thing as the police officer at the airport. Only then will she rectify her mistake.”Alagiri, a former Tamil Nadu Congress president, said he was reacting to complaints from farmers who were upset with Ranaut’s past comments.“Yesterday, 10-15 agriculturists came to me and reported that during a press conference, Kangana Ranaut once said that agricultural women they are working in the feeble lands. But they are the revolutionary ladies. One of the reporters asked her that even though those women are working in the fields, they are very prompt and brave, and capable of achieving anything. She (Kangana Ranaut) immediately replied that if given Rs 100, they can come anywhere. The agriculturists reported this to me yesterday. I was shocked. Why is this lady, a sitting MP, criticising agricultural ladies? They come from rural India,” Alagari said.Responding to Alagiri’s remarks, Kangana Ranaut said, “We can go wherever we want. No one can stop anyone. If there are people who hate me, there are more people who love me. People in Tamil Nadu have always showered love on me. One person saying something won’t make any difference.”Kangana was slapped last year in June by a CISF constable at the Chandigarh airport, the video of which was widely circulated on social media. According to eyewitness accounts and sources, the constable, identified as Kulwinder Kaur, allegedly confronted Kangana about her remarks regarding women participating in the ongoing farmers’ protests. The constable was suspended after the incident.
