‘Go back’ slogans in Kullu as Kangana Ranaut visits Himachal

Actor and BJP MP from Mandi, Kangana Ranaut, faced protests during her visit to a rain-affected region in Manali’s Kullu district, where locals raised “go back” slogans. She claimed that Himachal Pradesh had received ₹10,000 crore in aid from the Centre, a statement contested by the ruling Congress.

Videos circulating online showed residents in the Patlikuhal area carrying black flags and voicing anger over what they said was a delayed visit by the actor-politician. Tensions rose when BJP leaders accompanying Ranaut attempted to calm the crowd, prompting police intervention to defuse the situation.

In one clip, Ranaut was heard telling the protesters that they should direct their questions to her rather than resorting to aggression, Indian Express reported.

“Eevn my house is located here. My restaurant is also here. It did a business of only Rs 50 yesterday. We pay Rs 15 lakh in salaries, and we could only do Rs 50 worth of business. Try to understand my pain too…I am a Himachali. I am a single woman. Don’t attack me as if I’m doing nothing. Don’t treat me like I’m the Queen of England. I have to earn my own living,” she said.

She claimed that Himachal had received Rs 10,000 crore from the Centre and was visiting to assess the state government's progress. On August 25 and 26, heavy rains caused landslides and flash floods in numerous areas of Kullu and Manali, with powerful Beas River currents washing away a multi-storey hotel and four shops.

Stretches of the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway and the Manali-Leh Highway were swept away due to rising water levels in the Beas River. Manali's Right Bank Road, which connects Kullu city, the bus terminal, and Bindu Dhank, was also severely damaged.

A house was damaged in the Ramshele area of Kullu, water entered buildings in the 14 Mile area near Manali, and a fish farm was damaged in Patlikuhal due to overflowing rivers and drains.

On a visit to Laghati, Dadka, Bhutti, Kullu city, and Manikaran valley in the Kullu assembly constituency, she interacted with the affected families.

During her visit, Kangana Ranaut was briefed by BJP leader and former Manali MLA Govind Singh Thakur, along with local residents, about the infrastructural and other damages in the region. Thakur informed her that families from around 15–16 houses at risk had been shifted to safer areas. Villagers told her that the entire Solang settlement was facing the threat of sliding, as the Beas River was eroding the mountain beneath it. They suggested that channelising the river to alter its course would be the only effective solution.

Speaking to the media later, Ranaut remarked that disasters caused by heavy rains had become much more frequent. She noted that the Beas River had turned aggressive and attributed the worsening situation to deforestation, unchecked construction, and the lack of a proper drainage system.

She stressed that people of Himachal Pradesh needed to take a holistic approach to protect the state, echoing concerns earlier highlighted by the Supreme Court.

Ranaut further alleged that while the National Highway Authority of India was working continuously to restore main roads, the condition of link roads remained poor, and officials of the Public Works Department, including the minister in charge, were nowhere to be seen. The PWD portfolio is held by Vikramaditya Singh, son of former chief minister Virbhadra Singh.

Kangana Ranaut questioned the Congress leadership in Himachal Pradesh, asking why senior party figures such as Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had not visited the state.

In response, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s principal media advisor, Naresh Chauhan, accused the BJP of exploiting the recent monsoon disaster for political mileage. He said that instead of cooperating with the state in securing generous central assistance, BJP leaders at both state and national levels were issuing what he described as misleading and irresponsible remarks.

At a press conference, Chauhan asserted that the state administration was fully engaged in relief and restoration work, while the BJP was alleging neglect and failure to support affected families. He pointed out that several senior Congress leaders, including the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, and Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, had personally toured disaster-hit regions. Refuting Ranaut’s claim that the Centre had already sanctioned ₹10,000 crore, he challenged BJP leaders to produce evidence instead of spreading what he called rumours for publicity.

Chauhan underlined the magnitude of the devastation, noting that 419 lives had been lost and damages were estimated at nearly ₹5,000 crore, a figure likely to climb further. He said that although Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced ₹1,500 crore during his recent visit, the state was still waiting for clarity on whether this would come as a grant or be tied to specific schemes. He also recalled that in 2023, when losses had reached around ₹10,000 crore, the BJP had not been able to secure substantial relief from the Centre.

He further detailed that the state government had already allocated ₹397 crore from its own resources in 2025, with the highest amounts going to Mandi, Kangra, and Shimla. An additional ₹140 crore had been released to various departments and civic bodies for rehabilitation work. Chauhan added that the relief manual had been revised to significantly increase compensation for damages to houses, shops, cowsheds, livestock, and household belongings — in some cases, up to tenfold.