Varanasi, Sep 9 (IANS): Widespread protests have been taking place following the demolition of a part of the residential office of Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut in Mumbai by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday.

The demolition was also condemned in Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency, where the residents staged a protest. Eunuchs threw slippers at the posters of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Abu Azmi. Raut had earlier got into a spat with Kangana.

In the Godowlia area of Varanasi, dozens of local people took to the streets on Wednesday with posters bearing slogans of 'Boycott Sanjay Raut, Boycott Abu Azmi'.

The protesters shouted slogans against the Maharashtra government. An eunuch Lakshmi said the way the Maharashtra government has used its might against a lone woman was condemnable.

Anoop Jaiswal, Chairman of the 'Pranam Vande Mataram' Committee who was present during the protest, said they have taken to the streets to support Kangana Ranaut. We are protesting to teach politicians like Abu Azmi and Sanjay Raut a lesson, he added. Whether it was Kashi or Kashmir, the country stands united. The way Raut and Azmi have threatened Kangana must be condemned.

The Central government should take strong action against them. We are all committed to protecting Kangana, he said.