"I pray Lord Ram to provide her good sense": Vikramaditya Singh slams Kangana Ranaut

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], April 11 (ANI): Slamming Bharatiya Janata Party candidate and actress Kangana Ranaut for her "Chhota Pappu" remark, Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh said on Thursday that he would pray to Lord Ram to give her some "good sense."
The Congress leader further said that instead of misleading people by diverting attention, she should speak up on the real issues.
The Minister's response comes after Ranaut, in her rally in Manali, attacked Congress leaders for their "anti-women" mindset and referred to Vikramaditya Singh as "Chhota Pappu".
BJP has fielded actor Kangana Ranaut, renowned for movies like Queen, Manikarnika and 'Tanu Weds Manu,' from the Mandi constituency in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
In a video message, Singh said that Kangana Ranaut is trying to mislead people and divert the issues of the state and challenged her to have a debate with him.
"We respect our elder sister Kangana Ranaut. Today she was addressing the people of Manali. Instead of speaking against Congress party and its leaders, it would have been good, if she would have taken up and talked about the issues on the biggest disaster of the century, which happened in Manali a few months ago," Singh said.
He also attacked Ranaut, asking what had she done for the people suffering from the massive flood that hit Manali last year.
"As you claim to be a resident of Manali I want to ask: Did you visit the flood-hit areas of Manali during the disaster? I personally visited all areas. We have restored the roads on the left bank of Manali. We visited the central ministers in Delhi and brought Nitin Gadkari ji to Ground Zero," he further said.
"I want to tell you that these are not the issues of the people of Himachal Pradesh that what you eat and drink in Mumbai. I would request you please talk on issues of Mandi Parliamentary Constituency," Singh added.
The Himachal Minister challenged Ranaut to have a debate with him on their visions for the state. Taking a jibe at her, he said that he would pray to Lord Ram for giving some "good sense" to Ranaut.
"What have you contributed and what is going to be your role in the near future. What is your vision and planning for the future as a candidate from Mandi for BJP? You are trying to mislead and spoil the time of the people of Himachal Pradesh," Singh said.
"I have visited the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22nd and taken blessings of Lord Ram. I would pray Lord Ram to provide you a good sense. I would request that let's have a debate on the developmental trajectories of the state. I wish you good luck and wish you keep talking like this and using this kind of language," he added further.
Himachal Pradesh has four Lok Sabha seats. The polling on these four seats, along with six Assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh that fell vacant following the disqualification of Congress MLAs will be held on June 1.
The BJP had won all four seats in 2019. The counting will be done on June 4.
The Mandi constituency is considered a stronghold of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's family.
The seat is currently held by the late leader's wife Pratibha Singh. She was elected after a by-election in 2021, after the seat was vacated after the death of BJP MP Ram Swaroop Sharma. (ANI)