Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament from Mandi, Kangana Ranaut, has ignited a firestorm of criticism following her visit to the cloudburst-affected areas of her constituency in Himachal Pradesh. The actress-turned-politician’s remarks, delivered with a laugh during an interview with the news agency ANI, have been widely condemned as insensitive given the scale of the tragedy that has claimed lives and caused widespread devastation.
Ranaut, on Sunday, visited the flood ravaged areas of Mandi, including the severely affected Thunag subdivision, where at least 14 people have died and 31 remain missing due to cloudbursts and flash floods. The disaster, part of a broader monsoon crisis that has killed 78 people across Himachal Pradesh since June 20, has left infrastructure in tatters, with 269 roads blocked, 278 water schemes disrupted, and damages exceeding Rs 57 crore.
When asked about her role in providing disaster relief, Ranaut responded to ANI, “as far as the disaster relief or work are concerned…well, I don’t have any cabinet with me. There are two my associates who walk along with me and thats my cabinet….I don’t have any funds of my own for disaster relief or hold any Cabinet post. But, I can help to get disaster funds from the Centre…MP’s have limited scope for work…” Her casual tone and laughter during the statement, captured in a widely circulated video, drew sharp rebuke from the opposition Congress party and local residents.
The Congress party labeled Ranaut’s comments as “insensitive,” with spokesperson Supriya Shrinate stating, “People have lost everything- and she is in the mood for sarcasm, jokes, and laughter?” The party highlighted the plight of Mandi’s residents, noting that many have lost homes, loved ones, and livelihoods. Social media erupted with criticism, with users expressing dismay at Ranaut’s apparent lack of empathy. One X user remarked, “Mandi is devastated by a cloudburst. People are suffering. And BJP MP Kangana Ranaut says- ‘I don’t have any ministry, I can’t help’ (laughs). This is what happens when you elect actors instead of leaders.”
Ranaut, accompanied by former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur, defended her delayed visit, citing road closures and advice from party leaders. She emphasised the central government’s swift response, noting that forces were deployed for relief operations and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite being on a foreign tour, was informed of the situation. “As an MP, it is my job to bring in funds and convey the ground reality to the government,” she told ANI. She also took a swipe at the state’s Congress government, claiming that their handling of relief efforts would keep them out of power for the next 20 years.
