KULLU: Visiting flood-hit areas in Kullu-Manali more than three weeks after disaster struck the valley, Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut was greeted with black flags and shouts of ‘go back’. The actor-turned-politician sought to explain that she too had suffered losses but ended up triggering yet another controversy.“Aap chadhai karne aayee hain ya question krne? (Are you here to attack me or ask questions?) Calm down,” Kangana shot back at a reporter.
“You should also understand my grief. I too am a human being. I also have a house here and a restaurant. Yesterday, my restaurant did a business of Rs 50, and the monthly salary of the employees is Rs 15 lakh. I am a single woman. Don’t attack me as if Kangana is the Queen of England and not doing anything for the affected people. I am also like you,” she said in Manali in response to a question about how she too could have helped like other artists who collected money for the disaster-hit people of Himachal.Kangana, who owns a house in Manali, opened a restaurant in Prini near the town in February this year.Accompanied by former BJP MLA from Manali, Gobind Thakur, and BJP state spokesperson Akhilesh Kapoor, Kangana visited flood and landslide-hit areas on Thursday, including Solang Valley, Bahng village, Palchan, and Patlikuhal.When she reached Patlikuhal, a group of local Congress supporters showed black flags to her convoy and shouted, “Kangana go back, you are late.” Thakur began arguing with the protestors, and police took them away.Kangana had sparked a controversy during her visit to flood-affected Seraj region of Mandi in July as well. Asked about financial help to the disaster-hit victims, Kangana remarked that she was helpless as she didn’t have a Cabinet position or funds.According to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), Himachal Pradesh has suffered estimated losses of Rs 4,749 crore so far this monsoon, and the death toll has reached 424.The flooded Beas wreaked havoc in Kullu valley on Aug 25-26, washing away several stretches of Chandigarh-Manali national highway between Kullu and Manali. The highway was temporarily restored on September 16 but is still to be properly reopened for traffic as the repair work continues.