Snehashish roy
Actor-politician and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has defended her controversial “Generation Gutter” remarks after facing widespread criticism over comments directed at participants in the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests against alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination. Clarifying her stance, Kangana said her comments were not aimed at an entire generation but at a section of protesters who, she claimed, used abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother.
The controversy began after Kangana criticised some demonstrators during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, saying the language used by certain protesters reflected a worrying decline in public discourse. Her remarks, in which she referred to some youngsters as belonging to the “Generation Gutter”, quickly sparked outrage on social media and drew criticism from opposition leaders, activists and several public figures, who accused her of unfairly stereotyping Gen Z protesters.
Responding to the backlash through a video shared on social media, Kangana insisted that her statement had been taken out of context. She maintained that she was condemning those who resorted to obscene abuse while participating in demonstrations rather than making a sweeping generalisation about all young people. “Was I talking about all children?” she asked, adding that no parent would approve of their son or daughter using vulgar language in public or targeting political leaders with personal insults.
The actor argued that democratic protests are a legitimate part of politics, but they must remain within the bounds of civility and constitutional values. According to Kangana, criticism of the government should not translate into abusive behaviour, and discipline is essential in any democratic movement. She also questioned whether parents would encourage the kind of language that, according to her, had been heard during the protests.
Her clarification, however, did little to calm the political storm. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been at the forefront of the nationwide student protests, dismissed her explanation. Party spokesperson Saurav Das remarked that even members of Kangana’s own party did not take her seriously and questioned why India’s younger generation should pay attention to her views. He also accused the BJP MP of being disconnected from the concerns of students demanding accountability over examination irregularities.
Kangana hit back at Das in a series of Instagram Stories, describing him as “useless” and pointing to her own achievements at a similar age. She noted that she had already won two National Film Awards and built a successful career while, in her view, her critics had little to show for themselves. The exchange further escalated the ongoing war of words between the actor-politician and CJP leaders.
The row has unfolded against the backdrop of the expanding CJP movement, which began over alleged paper leak controversies and has evolved into a broader campaign demanding greater transparency, accountability and reforms in India’s examination system. Kangana’s comments have also drawn criticism from members of the film industry, including author Shobhaa De, who recently argued that Bollywood has become increasingly disconnected from Gen Z and contemporary youth movements.