BJP MP Kangana Ranaut mocked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he publicly supported actress Kriti Sanon's clothing choice in a jewellery advertisement.
The exchange highlights the deep political divide in India regarding women's autonomy and traditional values. It transforms a commercial marketing controversy into a broader ideological clash between the ruling party and the opposition.
The dispute began when Sanon appeared in a Raksha Bandhan advertisement that sparked significant backlash on social media. Critics described the ad as creepy and questioned the appropriateness of the attire for the traditional festival.
Rahul Gandhi defended the actress and the choice of clothing. "What a woman wears, what she does and where she goes — is her choice," Gandhi said.
Ranaut responded by mocking Gandhi's support for Sanon. The BJP MP criticized Gandhi's stance, specifically targeting his remarks about smashing the patriarchy in relation to the advertisement.
Gandhi said that a woman's choice of attire is her own. The Congress leader urged the public to stop trolling the actress over her professional choices.
Ranaut's criticism reflects a recurring pattern of public disagreements between the two figures. The clash underscores how celebrity culture and advertising are frequently used as battlegrounds for political messaging in India.
“"What a woman wears, what she does and where she goes — is her choice."”
This incident demonstrates the intersection of celebrity influence and political polarization in India. By weighing in on a commercial advertisement, political leaders are signaling their alignment with either progressive individual liberties or traditional social norms to appeal to their respective voter bases.
