BJP candidate ‘eyes’ Buddhist voters in Mandi Lok Sabha constituency
TNR Desk
BJP candidate and Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, who stirred a controversy with a jest involving the Dalai Lama last year, sought blessings from the Tibetan spiritual leader during her visit to McLeodganj in Himachal Pradesh’s Dharamshala on Monday.
Kangana, now the BJP Lok Sabha election candidate from Mandi Lok Sabha constituency, was accompanied by former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur during her visit to McLeodganj. Mandi constituency also had thousands of Buddhist voters, particularly in Lahaul-Spiti, Manali and a small portion in Mandi, which appears to have spurred Kangana’s visit to the abode of the revered leader, said a Congress leader.
The visit comes amidst the backdrop of controversy stemming from a social media post by Kangana in 2023, where she shared a meme featuring the Dalai Lama and US President Joe Biden. The meme, depicting the Dalai Lama sticking his tongue out alongside Biden, 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 a meme which featured Dalai Lama and read, ‘The Dalai Lama receives a warm welcome at the White house’. The picture in the tweet showed Dalai Kama 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 (The two have the same illness, they can be friends for sure).”
“A group of Buddhist people doing dharna outside my office in Pali Hill, I didn’t mean to hurt anyone, it was a harmless joke about Biden being friends with Dalai Lama…. please don’t misunderstand my intentions (folded hands emoji). “I do believe in Buddha’s teachings and his holiness 14th Dalai Lamba has spent his whole life in public service…. I had nothing against anyone…don’t stand in the harsh heat please go home,” she had written then.
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. Despite criticism, the Dalai Lama apologised for the gesture, which also ignited a wave of memes on the internet.
