"completely baseless rumours are being spread about me"
Kangana Ranaut has responded to claims from a Congress Party leader that she had previously eaten beef.
The claims referred to a 2019 tweet where she detailed her yogic lifestyle.
It read: “There is nothing wrong with eating beef or eating any other meat. It’s not about religion!
“It’s not a hidden fact that Kangana turned vegetarian 8 years ago and chose to be a yogi. She still doesn’t believe in just one religion. On the contrary, her brother eats meat.”
Although the tweet’s authenticity was contested, it gained traction after Vijay Wadettiwar pointed out the tweet and made a comment about her joining the BJP.
The issue of beef consumption is highly sensitive in India as cows are considered sacred by Hindus, the country’s largest religious group.
Kangana, who is the BJP candidate for Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi, dismissed the claims and tweeted:
“I don’t consume beef or any other kind of red meat, it is shameful that completely baseless rumours are being spread about me, I have been advocating and promoting yogic and Ayurvedic way of life for decades now such tactics won’t work to tarnish my image.
“My people know me and they know that I am a proud Hindu and nothing can ever mislead them.”
I don’t consume beef or any other kind of red meat, it is shameful that completely baseless rumours are being spread about me, I have been advocating and promoting yogic and Ayurvedic way of life for decades now such tactics won’t work to tarnish my image. My people know me and…
— Kangana Ranaut (Modi Ka Parivar) (@KanganaTeam) April 8, 2024
The post quickly went viral and divided social media users.
Berating Kangana, one user shared the old tweet and said:
“Liar! Explain how you were openly supporting beef a few years ago. Beef eaters and supporters should stay away from the sacred land of Himachal.
“No matter what, the people of Mandi will defeat you with over a lakh votes…”
Another said: “Was this you or your body double? Or perhaps Hrithik did this to you!”
Others defended Kangana, with one advising her not to pay attention to the rumours.
The user wrote: “You shouldn’t get bothered about such baseless rumours. Don’t drain your energy, Kangana Ma’am.
“Yes, the people who support you, they know you.”
BJP leader Shaina NC also hit out at Vijay Wadettiwar, terming the party as “anti-woman”.
She said: “This is not the first time the Congress has made such ludicrous comments.
“Supriya Shrinate has said ‘mandi me kya rate hai’ and Randeep Surjewala talks about Hema Malini’s attributes despite her being the age of Sonia Gandhi…This Congress party is clearly anti-women.”
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