Politicians across party lines demanded the government take back the Padma Shri bestowed on actor Kangana Ranaut after she triggered a controversy by describing India’s Independence in 1947 as ‘bheek’ or alms.

Ranaut also claimed that India attained freedom only after 2014, when the Narendra Modi-led government came to power.

Leading the charge against the ‘Queen’ actor, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma termed the remarks “shocking and outrageous” and urged President Ram Nath Kovind to take back the Padma award given to Ranaut.

“Kangana Ranaut’s statement heaping insult on the courageous freedom fighters led by Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru and Sardar Patel but also belittling the sacrifices of revolutionaries like Sardar Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekar Azad and several others,” Anand Sharma said in a series of tweets.

“Psychiatric evaluation should be carried out before giving such awards so that such persons do not dishonour the nation and its heroes,” he said.

Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda called her remarks “callous”.

Hindustani Awam Morcha president Jitan Ram Manjhi, whose party is in alliance with the NDA in Bihar, said all news channels should henceforth boycott the actor.

Tagging the President, Manjhi said, “The Padma Shri conferred upon Kangana Ranaut should be withdrawn forthwith. Else the world will think that Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Bhagat Singh, Kalam, Mukherjee, Savarkarall had begged to get freedom.”

Shiv Sena leader Neelam Gorhe said sedition charges should be slapped on Kangana Ranaut for terming India’s Independence as “alms”.

“She should be charged with sedition for her comments. Her Padma award should also be revoked,” the Shiv Sena leader said.

Shiv Sena’s ally in the Maharashtra government, the NCP, too, came down heavily on the actor for her remarks and demanded her arrest.

“She insulted freedom fighters. The Centre must take back Padma Shri from Kangana and arrest her. Looks like Kangana Ranaut took a heavy dose of malana cream (a particular variety of hashish that grows specifically in Himachal) before making such a statement,” Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik said.

The Aam Aadmi Party has submitted an application to Mumbai Police, demanding that a case be registered against Ranaut. AAP’s national executive member Preeti Sharma Menon termed the actor’s remarks “seditious and inflammatory”.

Criticism also came from the BJP as well, with Lok Sabha MP Varun Gandhi asking, “Should I call this madness or treason”.

“Sometimes an insult to Mahatma Gandhi’s sacrifice and penance, sometimes respect to his (Mahatma Gandhi’s) killer, and now an insult to the sacrifices of lakhs of freedom fighters — from Shaheed Mangal Pandey to Rani Laxmibai, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and more. Should I call this madness or treason?” Varun Gandhi tweeted.