A day after Congress criticised BJP MP and actress Kangana Ranaut over her silence on the devastating floods in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district—her parliamentary constituency— the actor-turned politician took to X and clarified that she is awaiting “approval” from the authorities and “will be there soonest”.
Congress’s criticism came after BJP leader and Jairam Thakur spoke on Ranaut’s absence form Mandi amid massive devastation due to the floods. When asked by reporters why Ranaut was silent on the flood situation, Thakur had said, “I do not know, and I do not wish to comment on it. We are here to live and die for those who care; I do not wish to comment on those who do not care.”
‘सांसद कंगना रनौत को मंडी के लोगों की चिंता नहीं है’
– ये बात हम नहीं, हिमाचल प्रदेश के पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री और BJP नेता जयराम ठाकुर कह रहे हैं।
दरअसल, हिमाचल प्रदेश के मंडी में बादल फटने से लोग भीषण त्रासदी से जूझ रहे हैं, लेकिन मंडी की सांसद कंगना रनौत गायब हैं। pic.twitter.com/hsxrjy9LJd
— Congress (@INCIndia) July 3, 2025
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Thakur’s comments also followed criticism of Ranaut’s social media posts about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Ghana visit, even as her own constituency was facing severe devastation due to heavy rains and flash floods.
People walk amid the debris in the aftermath of cloudbursts and flash floods, at Seraj valley in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. (PTI Photo)
Congress accuses Kangana Ranaut of indifference
Sharing a video of Thakur’s remarks, the Congress party wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “MP Kangana Ranaut does not care about the people of Mandi. These are not our words, but those of former Himachal Chief Minister and BJP leader Jairam Thakur.”
Following the backlash, Ranaut issued a statement on Friday expressing grief over the floods and clarified her position.
“It is heartbreaking to see massive flood devastation in Himachal almost every year now. I tried reaching flood-affected areas in Seraj and other areas in Mandi, but advised by respected leader of opposition Shri @jairamthakurbjp ji to wait until the connectivity and reach to the affected areas are restored. Red alert is issued by Mandi DC today as well. Awaiting authorities approval on the same, will be there soonest possible. Thanks,” she wrote on X.
It is heartbreaking to see massive flood devastation in Himachal almost every year now, I tried reaching to flood affected areas in Seraj and other areas in Mandi, but advised by respected leader of opposition Shri @jairamthakurbjp ji to wait untill the connectivity and reach to…
— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) July 4, 2025
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Her post came shortly after Thakur called on the Congress-led government to carry out relief and rescue operations on a war footing.
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Relief operations continue, political mudslinging escalates
Thakur, who represents the Seraj constituency in Mandi and campaigned for Ranaut during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, also visited the Kukla Gram Panchayat in Seraj where a cloudburst had destroyed homes and roads.
Rescue efforts are currently ongoing in the most severely affected areas such as Thunag and Seraj in Mandi district.
