Protests in favour and against Kangana Ranaut

Actor Kangana Ranaut is back home amid high drama at Mumbai airport. While Shiv Sena staged a protest against the actor, members of Republican Party of India and Karni Sena extended their support to the National Award-winning star.

Mumbai: Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut alighted at Mumbai airport and reached her home in Khar on Wednesday afternoon even as tension between her and the Shiv Sena government in the state continued.

Hours after Union Minister and Republican Party of India (RPI) president Ramdas Athawale came out in support of Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut, his party workers launched a protest outside the Mumbai airport on Tuesday.

The party leaders were sloganeering against the Maharashtra government outside the aerodrome but were later removed by the police deployed at the protest site.

Meanwhile, protesters had gathered at Mumbai airport's T2 since the morning, waiting for the actor to arrive. While Shiv Sena protesters gathered with black flags shouting slogans against the actor, there were members of the Karni Sena who shouted slogans in support of Kangana.

Shiv Sena protesters also brought placards written in Marathi decrying "dhikkar" (shame) to Kangana who, according to them, had insulted Mumbai. Shiv Sainiks could also be heard shouting, "Kangana Ranaut hai hai (down with Kangana Ranaut)".

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Plunging in the scene, Karni Sena came out in support of actor Kangana and staged a protest in the national capital outside the residence of Shiv Sena's Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut, amid the ongoing war of words between the two.

The supporters of the Panga actor also burnt Raut's effigy during the protest and were sloganeering.

Social distancing protocol was grossly violated by all protestors, who took off their masks and jostled together to shout slogans for or against the actor.

Even as this happened, Kangana and her sister Rangoli were secretly escorted from the airport through an undisclosed gate. They boarded a white car and left, surrounded by police vans. CISF personnel were present along with the CRPF and police personnel for the actor's' security.

Amid speculations, whether Kangana would visit her partially demolished Bandra office first, the actor and her sister reached her Khar residence at around 3.15 pm. Security was tightened around the house as her car entered the building premises.

With inputs from agencies