Did Kangana Ranaut Really Sell Only Rs 50 at Her Restaurant?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Kangana Ranaut reported minimal restaurant sales of Rs 50.
- Local residents protested her perceived inaction.
- The monsoon has caused extensive damage in Himachal Pradesh.
- Ranaut emphasized her personal challenges during the disaster.
- She offered to assist in obtaining disaster relief funds.
Manali, Sep 18 (NationPress) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha MP from Mandi and noted actress Kangana Ranaut addressed the distressed residents in her constituency on Thursday, revealing that her restaurant had recorded a mere Rs 50 in sales. This came amid expressions of frustration from locals who criticized her for not inquiring about their welfare during the recent monsoon disaster.
In an effort to explain the challenges faced by her business in Manali, Ranaut stated, "My restaurant has only made Rs 50 in sales while my salary obligations amount to Rs 15 lakh. Please consider my circumstances; I am also a human being, a single woman."
Her statements followed a chorus of discontent from locals who accused her of being out of touch with the needs of her constituency, shouting slogans like "Go back, you are late" in protest.
"Please don’t treat me as if I’m the Queen of England doing nothing for you. I earn my living here as well," the MP remarked.
Residents expressed their dissatisfaction regarding her late response to the disaster-stricken areas, noting the detrimental effects on their hospitality and agriculture sectors.
"My home, my business, and my land are all in this area. I have also experienced significant losses. Many roads have been destroyed. We used to travel for education and work, but recent projects have been devastated by the disaster," Ranaut shared.
She questioned, "Instead of attacking, why not ask questions? I am from here too; if you keep attacking me, how can I assist you?"
During her visit, tensions escalated, necessitating police intervention as Ranaut and her party leaders attempted to calm the crowd.
Earlier, Kangana Ranaut toured areas impacted by the disaster in Solang and Palchan within the Manali subdivision, engaging with those affected.
Former Mandi MLA Govind Singh Thakur informed her that 15 families were relocated to safer areas after their homes were deemed unsafe due to heavy rainfall.
In July, Ranaut faced backlash for her delayed response in the aftermath of the calamity, particularly in the Nachan Assembly constituency of Mandi, where nine individuals from two families were lost during the floods on July 1.
At that time, she had stated, "I lack the resources for disaster relief and do not hold a Cabinet position. Our roles as MPs are primarily within Parliament. However, I can assist in securing disaster funds from the Central government."
Himachal Pradesh has been grappling with severe monsoon damage, reporting 424 confirmed fatalities and widespread infrastructure destruction from June 20 to September 18, with an additional 45 individuals missing.
A total of 113 deaths have been recorded in the Mandi and Kullu districts, both part of Ranaut's constituency.
The BJP MP possesses a lavish cottage amid an apple orchard in Manali, located in Bhambla village near Hamirpur town, approximately 200 km from the state capital, Shimla.