BJP alleges Kangana’s convoy attacked by Congress workers in Spiti, stones thrown at vehicles

Former CM Jai Ram claims attempts made to stop cars

DHARAMSHALA: Senior BJP leader and former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has alleged that a life-threatening attack was orchestrated by Congress workers on the convoy of party candidate from Mandi parliamentary constituency Kangana Ranaut on Monday (May 20, 2024) when she reached Kaza in Spiti Valley to address a rally.

In a video message posted on social media, Jai Ram maintained that he and Lahaul-Spiti Assembly bypoll candidate Ravi Thakur were accompanying Kangana when the alleged attack took place. The former Chief Minister alleged that an attempt was made to stop the vehicles of the convoy and the protesters even indulged in stone-pelting.

Blaming the Lahaul-Spiti district management for the “mismanagement”, Jai Ram alleged that it was shameful that the Congress government had stooped to such a level that BJP convoys were being attacked. He demanded strict action against the officials responsible for the fiasco and that the BJP would even complain to the Election Commission.

Kangana was shown black flags upon her arrival in Kaza in remote Spiti Valley of Lahaul-Spiti district over an old social media post that allegedly insulted Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. Before Kangana’s helicopter could land in Kaza, a large number of locals, including Congress workers, raised “Go back” slogans against Kangana and showed her black flags.

In 2023, Kangana courted controversy by sharing on social media a meme featuring the Dalai Lama and US President Joe Biden. The meme, depicting the Dalai Lama sticking his tongue out alongside Biden, had sparked backlash and protests outside Kangana’s Mumbai office. In response, the actor had defended her post as a “harmless joke”, but also clarified her respect for the Dalai Lama and Buddhism.

Kangana had tweeted the meme that featured Dalai Lama and read, ‘The Dalai Lama receives a warm welcome at the White house’. The picture in the tweet showed Dalai Lama sticking his tongue out with Joe Biden photoshopped in front of him. Sharing the post, the actor wrote, “Hmmm dono ko same bimari hai, definitely dono ki dosti ho sakti hai (We both suffer from the same illness; can be friends for sure).”

The actress had recently sought blessings from the Tibetan spiritual leader during her visit to McLeodganj in Himachal Pradesh’s Dharamshala. The Mandi Lok Sabha constituency had thousands of Buddhist voters, particularly in Lahaul-Spiti and Manali, which appears to have spurred Kangana’s visit to the abode of the revered leader, a Congress leader had said then while targeting the actor.

Before Kangana’s post, the Dalai Lama himself was caught in a controversy when a video of the spiritual leader kissing a child on the lips went viral. The incident, which occurred at a public gathering in Dharamshala, drew mixed reactions online. Following the criticism, the Dalai Lama apologised for the gesture, which also ignited a wave of memes on the internet.