Congress warns Kangana to prove charge against Sonia or else...
What's the story
The Himachal Pradesh Congress has challenged Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kangana Ranaut to substantiate her allegations that the state government took loans and diverted the money to Sonia Gandhi.
State minister Vikramaditya Singh threatened legal action if Ranaut fails to provide evidence or apologize for her claims.
"I openly challenge MP Kangana Ranaut to show proof of even ₹1 being diverted or apologise to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi...Otherwise, the Congress will file a defamation case against her," he said.
Minister's rebuttal
Singh responds to Ranaut's allegations
Singh, who is the son of former chief minister Virbhadra Singha and the Congress's incumbent state president Pratibha Singh, dismissed Ranaut's allegations as a reflection of her lack of education.
He clarified that funds from the Centre and state development are spent through line of credit, draft, and overdraft facilities.
"The BJP MP does not visit Himachal Pradesh often but, with her film being "blocked" by the censor board, maybe she is saddened and making baseless statements," Singh said.
Political discourse
Ranaut's political remarks and Congress's response
He criticized Ranaut's "intellectual bankruptcy," noting that the actor-politician was recently punished by her party for comments concerning farmers' protests.
Calling Ranaut "out of control, Singh said "The BJP has already cautioned her... to not issue a statement on sensitive issues. However, it seem she has not paid heed to the advice of her party's high command."
Accusations detailed
Ranaut's allegations against Himachal Pradesh government
Ranaut, during a BJP event in Manali on Sunday, claimed that Congress-ruled state governments had depleted their treasuries.
She specifically accused the Himachal Pradesh government of taking loans and giving them to Gandhi, which she said has left the state's finances in shambles.
"If we (Centre) give disaster funds, it goes to the CM Relief Fund but everyone knows that it goes to the Sonia relief fund from there," she said.