Top leaders from the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance of Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party, Congress, and opposition Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, slammed Kangana for her remarks, while protests erupted in Mumbai and other cities against the actress.
Kangana Ranaut compared Mumbai city to Pakistan occupied Kashmir. She said that Sanjay Raut had threatened her not to come back to Mumbai, "Sanjay Raut Shiv Sena leader has given me an open threat and asked me not to come back to Mumbai, after Aazadi graffitis in Mumbai streets and now open threats, why Mumbai is feeling like Pakistan occupied Kashmir?"
Anil Vij, Home Minister in BJP-led Haryana government has come out in her support and demanded police protection for the actor.
"KanganaRanaut should be given police protection. She should be allowed to make revelations freely (in the Sushant Singh Rajput case)," Haryana Minister Anil Vij told ANI seemingly endorsing the "freedom of speech" stance taken by Amruta Fadnavis, wife of former Maharashtra Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis.
"Is it (Mumbai) anyone’s father’s state? Mumbai is a part of India and anyone can go there. Action should be taken against the people who issue such statements. You can’t stop someone from speaking the truth,” he said.
“Where is the candle brigade that comes to the road on every issue, and why are they not returning their medals when she is being stopped from speaking,” the minister asked.
Vij said: “Adequate security must be provided to Kangana and let her make the revelations freely. India is a free country, and she should be allowed to express herself freely".
Mr Vij's request to "protect" the actor comes a day after Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik said Ms Ranaut should be booked for sedition and that his colleague Sanjay Raut's suggestion - of Shiv Sena women members slapping the actor if she flew into Mumbai on September 9 - were mild.'