Maharashtra BJP distances itself from Kangana Ranaut’s comment on comparing Mumbai to PoK

Mumbai: The Maharashtra BJP unit has distanced itself from actor Kangana Ranaut’s comment comparing Mumbai to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and even criticised her for the same.

State BJP leader Ashish Shelar on Friday said, “We don’t agree with Kangana’s statement about Mumbai and Maharashtra, she should not teach us about Mumbai and Maharashtra.” Shelar was quick to react and sought to keep the party’s views from that of Mumbai BJP spokesperson Ram Kadam who had been supporting Kangana on the issue.

Shelar told reporters that the BJP does not subscribe to Kadam’s views and whatever Kadam had expressed were his ‘personal views’.


Alarm bells were sounded in the state BJP after several Marathi and the Hindi film actors, who are not known to be politically affiliated, took on Kangana for comparing Mumbai to PoK. Even the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has slammed Kangana for her statement. Kangana’s statement was seen as going against Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, Shelar said on Friday that Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut was using the Kangna issue to divert attention from the Sushant Singh case.

Leaders from all the three parties of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi are going all out against the BJP and Kangana claiming that her comments were an insult to the state and Mumbai’s pride.

Infact, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh went so far as to say that the, ‘Mumbai police is compared to Scotland Yard. Some people are trying to target the Mumbai police..after her comparison of Mumbai with PoK…if she doesn’t feel safe here, then she has no right to live in Mumbai and Maharashtra.” The actor retorted by comparing the state government to a Talibani government.

The Shiv Sena, which has been facing heat in the Sushant Singh case, has now vowed to get even. Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik said “female party cadres will break her (Kangana’s) face when she lands in Mumbai”. The actor has shot back saying she is not scared and she would come to Mumbai on September 9.