Way of expression: Kangana Ranaut firm on 'no Cabinet' remark over disaster aid

BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranaut on Monday remained unfazed over her remarks that she neither had disaster relief funds nor a Cabinet post while visiting flood-hit areas of her Lok Sabha constituency, Mandi. She said her statements were not controversial and it was her way of expression.

"I told the reality to the people about what is in my hands and what is not. As an MP, we have to raise our concerns and bring funds. I have an ambit. I told the people that our party will fulfill all the people's needs," she told India Today TV.

"My statements are not controversial. It's my way of expression," she said.

Ranaut said she would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and raise the demand for a special package for Himachal Pradesh, where rain-related incidents have killed 78 people so far.

Lashing out at the Congress for mocking her over the delay in visiting Mandi, she said, "The Congress picked up my two lines and spoke against me. We need to see where they utilise the funds. I am not late to reach people."

On Sunday, Ranaut made bizarre remarks when she said she neither had a Cabinet post nor had funds for disaster relief. However, she stressed that she was making efforts to get financial assistance from the Centre.

"I do not have any funds for disaster relief or hold any Cabinet post. MPs have work that was limited to Parliament. We are very small in the scheme of things. But, I can help to get disaster funds from the Centre," Ranaut told news agency ANI.

While the BJP MP asserted that she was accessible, she accused the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh of not providing relief to those who perished or were injured or lost their belongings due to cloudbursts.

Fourteen people have died in Mandi district and a search is on for 31 missing, as cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides caused massive destruction. More than 150 houses, 106 cattle sheds, 31 vehicles, 14 bridges and several roads have suffered damage in the disaster.

A total of 164 cattle have perished. About 200 roads have been rendered out of bounds for traffic, while 236 transformers and 278 supply schemes have been disrupted in Mandi district as of Sunday morning, according to the state emergency operation centre.

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(with inputs from PTI)