The famers’ protest against the three laws passed by Parliament doesn’t seem to show any sign of de-escalating anytime soon. The agitation has also created a rift between Hindi film actors Kangana Ranaut and Diljit Dosanjh.
It all started when Ranaut alleged in a tweet that an elderly women present in the protest was Bilkis Bano, a major figure in the Shaheen Bagh protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), and that she has joined the farmers’ movement in exchange for a paltry Rs100. The tweet, which raised a lot of eyebrows, was deleted later.
In order to prove the actress wrong, Dosanjh shared the interview of the woman in question, Mahender Kaur, and tagged Ranaut. He wrote in Punjabi, “Respected Mahinder Kaur ji. Listen to this proof, Kangana Ranaut. One should not be this blind. She keeps saying anything.”
Respected MAHINDER KAUR JI 🙏🏾
— DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) December 2, 2020
Ah Sunn La Ni With Proof @KanganaTeam
Banda Ena V Ni Anna Hona Chaida..
Kush v Boli Turi jandi aa .. pic.twitter.com/Ie1jNGJ0J1
Ranaut responded by dismissing the actor as filmmaker Karan Johar’s pet. “Hey Karan Johar’s pet. I spotted the old lady Bilkis Bano who was protesting for the citizenship at farmers’ protest also. I don’t even know Mahinder Kaur ji. What are you people up to? Stop this right now,” she wrote.
Ooo Karan johar ke paltu, jo dadi Saheen Baag mein apni citizenship keliye protest kar rahi thi wohi Bilkis Bano dadi ji Farmers ke MSP ke liye bhi protest karti hue dikhi. Mahinder Kaur ji ko toh main janti bhi nahin. Kya drama chalaya hai tum logon ne? Stop this right now. https://t.co/RkXRVKfXV1
— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) December 3, 2020
She then responded to her own tweet, saying, “Listen vultures, don’t consider my silence weakness. I am witnessing how you are instigating honest people through your lies and manipulating them. When, just like Shaheen Bagh, the real face of these protests is exposed, I will write a great speech and blacken your face,” she said and signed off, referring to herself as a wild tigress.
सुनो गिद्दों मेरी ख़ामोशी को मेरी कमज़ोरी मत समझना, मैं सब देख रही हूँ किस किस तरह से तुम झूठ बोलकर मासूमों को भड़का रहे हो और उनको इस्तेमाल कर रहे हो, जब शाहीन बाग़ की तरह इन धरनों का रहस्य खुलेगा तो मैं एक शानदार स्पीच लिखूँगी और तुम लोगों का मुँह कला करूँगी- बब्बरशेरनी pic.twitter.com/mYx5mmLkEE
— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) December 3, 2020
Ranaut, while replying to a tweet, also alleged that the farmers had brought another woman into the picture to spread lies. She said, “I had only commented on Shaheen Baag dadi [granny] because they instigated riots there. Even that tweet was deleted almost immediately. I don’t know from where they brought another elderly lady into the picture and are now endlessly spreading lies. Vultures trying to instigate the mob against a woman.”
I had only commented on Shaheen Baag dadi cos they instigated riots there even that tweet was deleted almost immediately, I don’t know from where they brought another elderly lady in to the picture and now endlessly spreading lies.Vultures trying to instigate mob against a woman. https://t.co/EI9xlXwaEu
— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) December 3, 2020
Following this, the Twitter war between Dosanjh and Ranaut was reignited, with accusations and counter-accusations being bandied about. Dosanjh took exception to the actress' usage of the word paaltu (pet), asking her if she was the pet of all the people she had worked with. "This is not Bollywood, this is Punjab," he warned her.
Tuneh Jitne Logon Ke Saath Film Ki Tu Un Sab Ki Paaltu Hai...?
— DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) December 3, 2020
Fer To List Lambi Ho Jaegi Maalko Ki..?
Eh Bollywood Wale Ni PUNJAB Wale aa .. Hikk Te Vajj Sadey
Jhooth bol kar logo ko badhkana aur emotions se khailna woh toh aap achey se janti ho..😊 https://t.co/QIzUDoStWs
The actress shot back, referring to the actor as a lickspittle. She claimed that she was referring to the Shaheen Bagh protester and nobody else. The actress further said that she would apologise if proven wrong.
Dosanjh went on the offensive again, telling the actress, "You have no sense how to speak to someone’s mother or sister. You are a woman yourself and are calling another one would work for Rs 100. Our mothers of Punjab are like God to us."
Bolan Di Tameez Ni Tainu.. Kisey di Maa Bhen Nu..
— DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) December 3, 2020
Aurat Ho Ke Dujeyq Nu Tu 100 100 Rs. Wali das di an..
SADE PUNJAB DIAN MAAVA SADEY LAI RAB NE..
Eh tan Bhoonda De Khakhar nu Shedh Leya Tu..
PUNJABI GOOGLE KAR LI..👍 https://t.co/KSHb45Xpak
Ranaut then resorted to personal insults and reiterated that she was talking about the Shaheen Bagh ‘dadi’ who she implied was being used by people with vested interests.
Oye dumbo baat wahi hai jab kisi ki citizenship gayi he nahin toh Saheen Baag dadi ne kiske kehne pe protests kiye? Jab MSP hataya he nahin toh phir wahi dadi kiske bhejne pe Farmers protests mein hissa le rahi hai? Kaun usko peeche se prompt karta hai when she speaks ? https://t.co/GZE2dyqVK3
— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) December 3, 2020