New Delhi: A day after she was suspended and arrested for slapping newly-elected BJP MP Kangana Ranaut at Chandigarh airport, Kulvinder Kaur struck a defiant note on Friday.
“I am not afraid of losing this job… I am ready to lose thousands of such jobs for my mother’s respect,” the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) constable posted on X.
Actor-turned-politician Kangana, who was travelling to Delhi after having won from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi Parliamentary constituency, had cleared security at Chandigarh airport on Thursday when Kaur slapped her, accusing her of disrespecting farmers.
Within hours, she was suspended and an inquiry was ordered. On Friday morning, she was arrested.
Unfazed, Kaur defended her action by stating that she wasn’t afraid of losing her job.
Besides a video message of Kangana narrating the incident and voicing concern over terrorism rising in Punjab, a clip of Kaur also went viral on Internet, in which the constable was heard saying that her protest was against the ‘Manikarnika’ star’s statement that women took part in farmers’ protest for being paid money.
“She (Kangana) gave a statement about farmers sitting in protest for Rs 100. Will she go and sit? My mother was sitting and protesting when she said this,” Kaur said.
Farmers staged months-long protests in north India and other parts of the country in 2020 and 2021 against the controversial farm laws. The Modi government had to ultimately repeal the three laws.
Farmer groups, including Samyukt Kisan Morcha — the umbrella organisation that led the farmers’ protest – rallied behind Kaur and called for an investigation.
“We demand a proper investigation… there should be no injustice with the woman constable,” said Jagjit Singh Dallewal, an SKM (non-political) leader.
He claimed that Kaur had asked to examine the controversial actor-politician’s handbag and mobile phone, and when she refused to oblige, there was an argument.
“Everyone knows the track record of Ranaut and the kind of language she has used towards farmers. There must have been an argument which led to the incident. A proper investigation is needed,” demanded Dallewal.