NSUI protests against Kangana Ranaut's controversial statement, demands Padma Shri award to be taken back

Kangana Ranaut, controversy's favourite child, is back in the news for her most recent controversial statement. 

On Thursday, the actress sparked outrage by claiming that India attained "real freedom" in 2014, when the Narendra Modi-led government took power, and referring to India's independence in 1947 as "bheek." 

On Friday afternoon, protests erupted outside her home. The NSUI staged a protest, demanding that her Padma Shri award be revoked for 'insulting' brave freedom fighters and martyrs. 

Aside from the protest, several politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties have slammed the actress for her remarks. 

Delhi BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor was the latest to demand that the judiciary take action against her.

As the son of a freedom fighter and from a family of freedom fighters, I find Kangana Ranaut's remarks that India's freedom was alms (bheekh) as the biggest misuse of freedom and an insult to the sacrifice made by freedom fighters. I wish the judicial system of India takes cognizance

- Praveen Shankar Kapoor

Anand Sharma, a senior Congress leader, called the actress' comments "outrageous" and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi break his silence and say whether he supports such views, or else the government take appropriate legal action against Ranaut. 

Jitan Ram Manjhi, president of the Hindustani Awam Morcha, also slammed Ranaut for her controversial remarks and demanded that the Padma Shri award bestowed upon her be "withdrawn forthwith."