BJP MP and actress Kangana Ranaut has sparked a political controversy after calling Gen Z protesters “generation gutter” in a series of Instagram Stories posted on Monday.
In her posts, Ranaut targeted demonstrators at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, writing, “You call yourself cockroaches and look/behave like them as well,” and accusing them of subjecting others to their “filth, garbage and ugliness.”
The remarks were directed at protesters linked to the Cockroach Janta Party, whose nationwide demonstrations over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak had culminated in the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The CJP hit back on Tuesday, with spokesperson Saurav Das dismissing Ranaut’s comments and saying, “Even people within Kangana Ranaut’s own party don’t pay much attention to her or take her seriously, so why should we?”
Das argued that Ranaut lacked seriousness as a politician, pointing to her own past admission that she had underestimated the workload involved in being a Member of Parliament.
The CJP spokesperson also contended that Gen Z had contributed more to the nation than Ranaut and had strengthened India’s democratic institutions through its activism.
CJP representatives said elected officials should maintain dignity and be mindful of their language when speaking publicly, adding that younger generations did not take Ranaut’s views seriously.
Ranaut, who represents Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, has faced criticism from Congress and AIMIM leaders as well since her remarks began circulating widely online.
AIMIM leader Waris Pathan called the remarks “highly condemnable” and said Ranaut should apologise to Gen Z, adding, “PM Modi should take cognisance of the kind of language his MPs use for Gen Z.” Congress leader Bhai Jagtap questioned how Ranaut, as a woman, felt no remorse over the treatment of protesting students, while Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat said “no one takes Kangana Ranaut seriously.”
The exchange has drawn wide attention online, with Ranaut’s remarks and the CJP’s response both trending across social media platforms in the days since.
(Image: Photo: Sadhguru, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0)
