Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has triggered a fresh political controversy after describing Gen Z protesters as “Generation Gutter” in a series of strongly worded social media posts targeting students who recently demonstrated at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and other cities.
According to NDTV, Ranaut criticised the slogans, placards, memes and social media content shared during the protests, calling them “puke-inducing” and accusing the protesters of using crude language.
“Never in my life have I seen so much ugliness in one place. These reels from Gen Z protests are puke-inducing. The way they speak and the kind of language they are using… never in my life have I seen everything in each and every frame so jarring and so crass all at once,” she wrote.
The BJP MP also questioned the upbringing of the protesters, writing: “Ewww, who is birthing and raising them?”
Referring to protesters who described themselves as “cockroaches”, Ranaut contrasted them with what she called India’s tradition of elegance and cultural sophistication.
“India is a place of diversely beautiful people, draped in elegance and rooted in cultural sophistication. You call yourself cockroaches and look/behave like them as well. There is no paradox or juxtaposition there, just simply subjecting the world to your filth, garbage and ugliness. I am scarred from these reels. I need some healing, digital detox,” she wrote.
Ranaut drew further criticism after targeting women who participated in the demonstrations. Referring to them as “so-called westernised Indian women”, she claimed they were “so corrupt and ugly” that “they can’t be homemakers”. She also alleged that they “proudly flaunt their freedom to have drugs, drinks and shamelessly live off their parents’ earnings”.
She then coined the term “Generation Gutter” for the protesters.
“I call them Generation Gutter. Some of them have nothing to offer to the system. They are not good at studies. They are so ugly and corrupt that they can’t even be homemakers,” she wrote.
The remarks drew sharp reactions from opposition leaders.
Congress leader Bhai Jagtap questioned whether Ranaut had shown any concern over the treatment of students during the demonstrations.
“The way our daughters and children were harassed, beaten, and mistreated during this protest, being a woman herself, how does she not feel the slightest remorse? I find this truly astonishing,” he said.
AIMIM leader Waris Pathan also criticised the BJP MP’s remarks and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take note of the language used by members of his party.
“If Kangana Ranaut has used such words, then it is highly condemnable. Ask her if she even knows the full form of NEET. She wouldn’t know. She should apologise to the entire Gen Z. PM Modi should take cognisance of the kind of language his MPs use for Gen Z,” Pathan said.
This is not the first time Ranaut has commented on the protests. She had earlier criticised the methods adopted by the demonstrators through social media posts, questioning attempts to pressure the government through street protests.
