Not even a week had passed after Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut was honoured with the fourth highest civilian award of the nation, the Padma Shri, and she managed to irk a whole lot of Indians with her inconsiderate words about the independence of India  in 1947 from the British rule.

© Instagram/Kangana Ranaut

In a statement, Ranaut said that India attained true freedom in 2014, while what we got in 1947 was alms (bheek). 

This outraged Indians who demanded that her award should be taken back since her comments maligned the freedom movement and belittled the efforts of our freedom fighters.

© Instagram/Kangana Ranaut

Now, a senior Congress leader Anand Sharma has urged the President to revoke her honour over her bheek comment. He took to Twitter describing it as “shocking” and “outrageous” and tagged the President to take appropriate action.

He wrote, "Prime Minister should break his silence and tell the nation if he endorses the views of Ms Ranaut. If not, the government should take appropriate legal action against such people," he tweeted.

© Twitter/Anand Sharma

“Hon'ble @rashtrapatibhvn should immediately take back the Padma award given to Ms Ranaut. Psychiatric evaluation should be carried out before giving such awards so that such persons do not dishonour the nation and its heroes," he added.

Another Congress leader also tweeted, “Kangana Ranaut's statement show’s what happens when people who are not deserving of Padma awards are given these honours. The government should take back the prestigious Padma award from her.”

© Instagram/Kangana Ranaut

Maharashtra Minister and Congress leader Nawab Malik also demanded the arrest of the actress. 

“Looks like Kangana Ranaut took a heavy dose of Malana Cream (a variety of hashish) before making such a statement," he said. "We strongly condemn actress Kangana Ranaut's statement. She insulted freedom fighters. The Centre must take back the Padma Shri from Kangana Ranaut and arrest her,” he added.

© Instagram/Kangana Ranaut

While some folks on Twitter agree that Kangana's comment was downright derogatory and are demanding the cancellation of her honour, others pointed out that her views are not something over which an award for her art should back. 

Kangana was awarded the Padma Shri for her contribution to Indian cinema.

Here is what people on Twitter have to say about the current controversy: 

@AnandSharmaINC if awards are to be taken back based on what people speak in public, there are many that can be taken away - #Media folks like @BDUTT @sardesairajdeep @ShekharGupta should have been stripped of award years back.

— #MyFamilyMyResponsibility (@kossireddi) November 12, 2021

Irrespective of her political affiliation her this statement is highly objectionable and must be condemned univocally. It had become a fashion to demean our freedom fighters because we haven’t gone through the pain of freedom struggles. Not worthy of any accolades

— Soumyashri Debasish (@SoumyashriD) November 11, 2021

Nehru & Indira Gandhi gave Bharat Ratna to themselves. Kangana was given 2 national awards even by congress, u love her or hate her, but you can't deny that she is a top class actress who carved a place for herself, a truly self made woman.#BharatRatna #भारत_रत्न

— Vishant Panjiyar (@Vishant93185965) November 11, 2021

Why only Congress… Bloody hell.. the whole nation wants!!!!!!

— Satish Kumar (@Sakumanu143) November 11, 2021

Do the Padma’s carry any lustre anymore. In most cases they are given to people who appease the ruling party and the Padma Bhushan and Vibhushan”are doled out again in most cases to people who had a long way to go before being worthy of it

— chechawan (@deepak_ballal) November 11, 2021 

Clearly, people are furious at her and for the right reasons.  

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