Cockroaches emerge from gutters: Kangana Ranaut doubles down on Gen-Z remark Kangana Ranaut, an actress turned BJP Member of Parliament, has reiterated her controversial remarks about Gen-Z protesters, describing them as part of a "generation gutter." Speaking to news agency ANI outside Parliament on the final day of the Monsoon Session, she clarified that her comments were directed at a specific group within the protests rather than all young Indians. Ranaut stated that individuals who refer to themselves as "cockroaches" should not object to being linked with gutters. She emphasized that if someone identifies as a cockroach, they logically reside in a gutter, adding that she personally rejects such labels. Ranaut's remarks came amid ongoing tensions over student protests in Delhi, where thousands gathered at Jantar Mantar under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The protests initially focused on the NEET-UG paper leak and calls for examination reform. They escalated following a police crackdown during the July 20 Chalo Sansad march. The situation reached a turning point when Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on July 25 after the government accepted several demands, leading to the withdrawal of the CJP's agitation the same day. In response to the protests, Ranaut posted Instagram stories criticizing the behavior of some participants, calling the footage "puke-inducing" and expressing disdain for the language used by the protesters. She coined the term "Generation Gutter" and accused certain individuals, particularly young Hindu women, of mimicking independent career women without accountability. She criticized them for flaunting lifestyle choices while relying on parental support, stating that they "subject the world to your filth, garbage and ugliness." Her comments drew immediate backlash from opposition politicians, film industry figures, and social media users, including actor Sonu Sood, AIMIM leader Waris Pathan, and Congress politician Bhai Jagtap. Opposition leaders questioned why an elected representative showed no empathy toward students allegedly mistreated during the protests, while Sood called the remarks "very shameful." Ranaut maintained that her statements were not a broad condemnation of all youth but a critique of a specific subset of protesters. She acknowledged discussing drug use, betting, gambling, and activities related to the dark web, emphasizing that her focus was on particular behaviors rather than a generalization about the entire Gen-Z population. On the professional front, Ranaut was last seen in Bharat Bhagya Vidhata, a film directed by Manoj Tapadia, which portrays the real-life experiences of healthcare workers at Cama Hospital during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The film highlights the resilience and dedication of medical professionals during a crisis, offering a stark contrast to the political controversy surrounding her recent remarks. Separately, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) raised concerns about the handling of parliamentary procedures during the Monsoon Session. CJP spokesperson Saurav Das claimed that three sets of questions posed by DMK MP Matheswaran V.S. regarding the youth protests, NEET-UG, and police actions were disallowed under Rule 41(2) of the Lok Sabha Rules. Das criticized the government for rejecting the questions, arguing that they were legitimate inquiries into public accountability and governance. He pointed out that the questions covered critical issues such as refunding application fees for NEET-UG 2026, access to basic amenities for protesters, and the treatment of citizens exercising their right to peaceful assembly. Das also questioned why Home Minister Amit Shah did not appear before Parliament to address these matters, asserting that the right of MPs to scrutinize the executive is essential to democratic functioning. Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu, DMK MP Kanimozhi's attendance at the Lok Sabha Speaker’s tea party sparked speculation about potential alliances between the DMK and the BJP. Tamil Nadu law minister R Nirmal Kumar suggested that Kanimozhi’s presence indicated a growing partnership with the BJP, drawing parallels to past collaborations in Tamil Nadu. However, both the BJP and DMK officials dismissed the claims, with BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy and DMK MLA Markandayan GV refuting the allegations.
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